The prohibition on torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is one of the most important provisions in the Human Rights Act.
It is an absolute right – in no circumstances will it ever be justifiable to torture someone.
Inhuman acts will amount to torture when used to deliberately cause serious and cruel suffering.
Treatment will be considered inhuman when it causes intense physical or mental suffering.
Treatment or punishment will be degrading if it humiliates and debases a person beyond that which is usual from punishment.
There are a number of obligations on the UK in respect of this prohibition, both negative (prohibiting public authorities from doing things) and positive (requiring the State to take certain action).