From Fitzroy's Private Diary (Extract 14)

Torture can be necessary. When the lives of many depend on the knowledge of a hostile few, it can be a vital weapon. That said, I dislike it intensely.

Having been subjected to physical torture myself, I know how ineffective it is on a trained agent. It ends in one of three ways. Either the agent dies under torture, they offer up a lie, or they tell the truth. Most of our agents will die rather than reveal information, unless the torturer is exceptionally skilled. Under physical torture I believe everybody breaks at some point but breaking and revealing information are not the same thing. Personally, I am wary of believing anything said under physical torture. You can inflict so much pain that your subject will say anything to make it stop.

This is, of course, leaving aside the total inhumanity of torturing another person. It changes those who inflict it, those who watch it and those who order it - and all for the worse.

I prefer a different tack. Generally, I will put all those from whom I seek information in the same room. I will allow them to discuss their situation. I will ensure they are given basic food and basic care. Then I and another agent will enter. I will explain what I need to know. No one will speak - if they do, I don’t trust a word of it. I will then apologise for my tactics, but say I need the information now. After this I will escort one or two of the more popular among the group out of the room at gunpoint.

After I have left the room the remaining captives will hear gunshots, equal to the number of people I have taken. When I return, I will only assure them it was quick as I am not a monster. I will then repeat my request for information. Of course, in playing out this scenario, it is imperative not to remove any of the captives who actually have the information we need.

Usually after the first shooting or shootings, someone will crack.

In case it isn’t clear, the torture of which I speak is psychological, not physical. The people removed from the room are merely taken to another room. The shots fired are aimed at no-one and harm no-one. There is no place in the British way of things to summarily murder agents or civilians. I do not deny we have the death penalty, but execution comes at the end of a fair trial and not at an inquisitor’s whim.