Five techniques

The five techniques, also known as deep interrogation, were a group of interrogation methods developed by the United Kingdom during the 20th century and are currently regarded as a form of torture. They are most notable for being applied to detainees in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

The five collective methods were prolonged wall-standing, hooding, subjection to noise, deprivation of sleep, and deprivation of food and drink.

The use of the techniques was controversial, and in 1972 the UK government accepted the findings of an inquiry chaired by Lord Parker, the Lord Chief Justice of England that the techniques were illegal under British and Northern Irish law and issued directives prohibiting their use.

In 1976, the European Commission of Human Rights ruled that the five techniques amounted to torture. The case was then referred to the European Court of Human Rights. In 1978, the court ruled that the techniques were "inhuman and degrading" and breached Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights but did not amount to torture. In 2014, after new information was uncovered that showed the decision to use the five techniques in Northern Ireland in 1971–1972 had been taken by ministers, the Irish Government asked the European Court of Human Rights to review its judgement. In 2018, the Court declined.

In 2021, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom found that the use of the five techniques amounted to torture.