Italian police on Thursday bluntly rejected a report by Amnesty International that they used beatings and electric shocks, potentially constituting 'torture', on migrants.

"I categorically deny that violent methods were used against migrants, either during their identification process or repatriation," Police Chief Franco Gabrielli said in a statement. On Wednesday, Amnesty said Italian police had abused migrants in a bid to meet tougher requirements on expulsions and on processing arrivals.