Defend the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5

The book reveals the precise role of the Security Service in twentieth-century British history, from its foundation by Captain Kell of the British Army in October 1909, through two world wars, up to and including its present roles in counterespionage and counterterrorism. Few books could make such an immediate and extraordinary increase to our understanding of British history over the past century. In all of this no restriction has been placed on the judgments made by the author. Defend the Realmalso adds significantly to our knowledge of many celebrated events and notorious individuals and definitively lays to rest a number of persistent myths.Above all, it shows the place of this previously extremely secretive organization within the United Kingdom. An unprecedented publishing event: to mark the centenary of its foundation, the British Security Service, MI5, has for the first time opened its archives to an independent historian. The book describes how MI5 has been managed, what its relationship has been with government, where it has triumphed, and where it has failed.

The Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) is primarily responsible for gathering intelligence outside the UK in support of the government's security, defence, foreign and economic policies.

Question: How realistic is the depiction of MI5 in the television series Spooks (MI-5 here in the United States)?

Christopher Andrew: The BBC's Spooks is a slickly-produced and entertaining drama, but, like other works of spy fiction, it glamorizes the world of intelligence. For example, MI1 was responsible for code-breaking, and MI2 handled Russian and Scandinavian intelligence. They also have eight regional offices around Great Britain plus a Northern Ireland headquarters. The nature of MI5's work can be stimulating and highly rewarding (as the show's strapline declares, it is not "9 to 5"), but the program does not portray the full range of their activities, nor the routine, but vitally important, aspects of their operations which would not make such exciting viewing. The Service is organized into seven branches, each with specific areas of responsibility, which work to counter a range of threats including terrorism, espionage and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Question: What happened to MI1-MI4?

Christopher Andrew: There were a number of departments within the Directorate of Military Intelligence (MI1 through MI19) which dealt with a range of issues. The responsibilities of these departments were either discontinued or absorbed into The War Office, MI5 and MI6 and, later, the Government Communications Headquarters.

Question:What is the difference between MI5 and MI6?

The Security Service (MI5) is the UK’s security intelligence agency, responsible for protecting the UK, its citizens and interests, at home and overseas, against the major threats to national security. A Q&A with Christopher Andrew Question: Where does "MI5" come from?

Christopher Andrew: MI5 originally stood for "Military Intelligence [Department] 5." The Secret Service Bureau (SSB) was formed in 1909 to counter the danger to Britain from German espionage, and the division of the SSB responsible for counter-espionage within the British Isles became Department 5, or "MI5." MI5 was renamed the Security Service in 1931, but is still commonly known as MI5 today.

Question: Where is MI5 based?

Christopher Andrew: MI5's staff, headed by Director General Jonathan Evans, is largely based in their headquarters at Thames House in London. Particularly unrealistic is the way in which the characters in Spooks regularly act outside the law in pursuit of their investigations!

(Photo © Michael Jones)