MI-5
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 (Military Intelligence, Section 5),[1] is the United Kingdom's counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of the intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS or MI6), Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and the Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS). All come under the direction of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC). The service has a statutory basis in the Security Service Act 1989 and the UK Intelligence Services Act of 1994. Its remit includes the protection of British parliamentary democracy and economic interests, counter-terrorism, counter-intelligence, and counter-espionage within the UK. While mainly concerned with internal security, it does have an overseas role in support of its mission.
The service has had a national headquarters at Thames House on Millbank in London since 1995, drawing together personnel from a number of locations into a single HQ facility. Thames House is shared with the Northern Ireland Office and is also home to the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, a subordinate organisation to the Security Service. It has been alleged that the Service has regional facilities with one claimed to be in Glasgow.[2] Within the civil service community the service is colloquially known as Box 500 (after its official wartime address of PO Box 500; its current address is PO Box 3255, London SW1P 1AE)[3]
The end of the Cold War resulted in a change in emphasis for the operations of the service, assuming responsibility for the investigation of all Irish republican activity within Britain and increasing the effort countering other forms of terrorism, particularly in more recent years the more widespread threat of Islamist extremism.
The service has been attributed with a number of successes in breaking up and monitoring extremist Islamist networks since 2001. It is also attributed with successfully infiltrating the Provisional IRA (PIRA), with operations in conjunction with Special Branch from various police forces leading to 21 convictions for terrorism-related offences between 1992 and 1999.
Whilst the British security forces in the six affected Irish Counties provide support in the countering of both Republican and Loyalist paramilitary groups since the early 1970s, Republican sources have often accused these forces of collusion with Loyalists.
In 2006, an Irish government committee inquiry found that there was widespread collusion between British security forces and Loyalist terrorists in the 1970s, which resulted in 18 deaths.[12][13]
The Security Service will take responsibility for all security intelligence work in Northern Ireland from 2007 from the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Both Nuala O'Loan, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, and Al Hutchinson, the Oversight Commissioner of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, have expressed reservations.
With the emergence of other terrorist threats in the United Kingdom the service has increased its resource commitment to the detection and prevention of these activities. Numerous raids against suspected militants, and the internment of key suspects in HM Prison Belmarsh in London, have been credited to Security Service intelligence. It has been reported that Security Service officers have been involved in interrogation of British citizens interned at the United States' Guantanamo Bay facility in Cuba.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 (Military Intelligence, Section 5),[1] is the United Kingdom's counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of the intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS or MI6), Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and the Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS). All come under the direction of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC). The service has a statutory basis in the Security Service Act 1989 and the UK Intelligence Services Act of 1994. Its remit includes the protection of British parliamentary democracy and economic interests, counter-terrorism, counter-intelligence, and counter-espionage within the UK. While mainly concerned with internal security, it does have an overseas role in support of its mission.
The service has had a national headquarters at Thames House on Millbank in London since 1995, drawing together personnel from a number of locations into a single HQ facility. Thames House is shared with the Northern Ireland Office and is also home to the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, a subordinate organisation to the Security Service. It has been alleged that the Service has regional facilities with one claimed to be in Glasgow.[2] Within the civil service community the service is colloquially known as Box 500 (after its official wartime address of PO Box 500; its current address is PO Box 3255, London SW1P 1AE)[3]
The end of the Cold War resulted in a change in emphasis for the operations of the service, assuming responsibility for the investigation of all Irish republican activity within Britain and increasing the effort countering other forms of terrorism, particularly in more recent years the more widespread threat of Islamist extremism.
The service has been attributed with a number of successes in breaking up and monitoring extremist Islamist networks since 2001. It is also attributed with successfully infiltrating the Provisional IRA (PIRA), with operations in conjunction with Special Branch from various police forces leading to 21 convictions for terrorism-related offences between 1992 and 1999.
Whilst the British security forces in the six affected Irish Counties provide support in the countering of both Republican and Loyalist paramilitary groups since the early 1970s, Republican sources have often accused these forces of collusion with Loyalists.
In 2006, an Irish government committee inquiry found that there was widespread collusion between British security forces and Loyalist terrorists in the 1970s, which resulted in 18 deaths.[12][13]
The Security Service will take responsibility for all security intelligence work in Northern Ireland from 2007 from the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Both Nuala O'Loan, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, and Al Hutchinson, the Oversight Commissioner of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, have expressed reservations.
With the emergence of other terrorist threats in the United Kingdom the service has increased its resource commitment to the detection and prevention of these activities. Numerous raids against suspected militants, and the internment of key suspects in HM Prison Belmarsh in London, have been credited to Security Service intelligence. It has been reported that Security Service officers have been involved in interrogation of British citizens interned at the United States' Guantanamo Bay facility in Cuba.
