LONDON — British police say they are investigating an allegation that the country's foreign spy agency was complicit in torture.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who oversees MI6, said today the agency had referred a case itself to the country's chief legal adviser, who ruled police should carry out an inquiry.

Scotland Yard will investigate "the conditions under which a non-Briton was held and the potential involvement of British personnel," it said in a statement.

Police and Britain's Foreign Office would not provide further details, nor specify where the alleged torture is said to have taken place.

London police noted the complaint is not connected to an inquiry into alleged torture of ex-Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed.