Week Two - State Crime

Question 1

Britain destroyed records of colonial crimes…

Answer 1

“Thousands of documents detailing some of the most shameful acts and crimes committed during the final years of the British Empire were systematically destroyed to prevent them falling into the hands of post-independence governments, an official review has concluded”

Question 2

What did Ian Cobain say in Cruel Britannia?

Answer 2

“The official line is clear. The UK does not ‘participate in, solicit, encourage or condone’ torture. And yet, the evidence is irrefutable: when face with potential threats to our national security, the gloves always come off”

Question 3

When did the British archives come to light?

Answer 3

The archive came to light when a group of Kenyans detained and allegedly tortured during the Mau Mau rebellion won the right to sue the British Government. The Foreign Office promised to release the 8,800 files from 37 former colonies held at the highly-secure government communications centre at Hanslope Park in Buckinghamshire