Torture inquiry goes to Yates of the Yard

The policeman given the sensitive job of investigating whether MI5 collaborated in the torture and unlawful detention of Binyam Mohamed, is to be none other than John Yates, or 'Yates of the Yard' as he came to be known during the long months when he headed the 'cash for peerages' inquiry before Tony Blair left office.

His handling of that investigation made him enemies across Westminster. Despite arresting Blair's chief fundraiser Lord Levy twice, and putting the frighteners on Downing Street aides, not one person was ever prosecuted.

Yates, 49, is Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. His supporters point out that while the peerages inquiry did little for his reputation, Yates does have some successes to his name: he led the investigation that caused Lord (Jeffrey) Archer to be jailed for perjury in 2001. And he has also investigated police corruption cases.

But the omens for the MI5-Mohamed inquiry are not good: the CIA has reportedly said there is no way Yates and his team will be allowed to interview the American agents involved in the rendition and interrogation - allegedly using information supplied by British agents - of Binyam Mohamed.

A senior CIA official is reported by the Mail on Sunday to have said: "We have learned from the British not to take actions that are not in our best interest."

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