A Europe-wide body set up to prevent torture has called for an independent inquiry into complaints against police in England and Wales.

A report by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture highlights failures in tackling police brutality in England and Wales.

It says the existing Police Complaints Authority for those countries appears ill-equipped to act as an independent watchdog.

The Strasbourg-based committee wants to reopen assault cases where victims have been compensated and officers have escaped charges.

Its report, which covers a visit by a delegation in September 1997, was prompted by concerns that police were escaping accountability for brutality or misconduct.

Questions raised

The committee wants an independent review of all civil claims for assault by police officers in the past two years which have resulted in compensation of £10,000 or more, to reconsider whether proceedings should be taken.

It says the information gathered "raises serious questions" about the independence and impartiality of the procedures used to process complaints about police misconduct.

"The delegation's findings also cast doubt upon the efficacy of criminal and/or disciplinary proceedings as legal remedies for police misconduct," it adds.

The committee enforces the European convention for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, ratified by Britain in 1988, which binds 40 of the 41 member states of the Council of Europe.

Its remit is to safeguard the rights of prisoners, immigration detainees and those in police custody.

The Home Office is expected to publish its response to the report in a few weeks