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  • About Us

    About us

    Find out more about MI5’s mission and core values; our people who work to keep the country safe; and our rich and varied history.

    People

    Workforce information

    Director General

    Former Directors General

    Where we work

    Thames House

    Partnerships

    Cinquefoil Trust
  • What we do

    What we do

    Find out about the core threats to national security that MI5 exists to protect against. 

    Countering terrorists

    Countering state threats

    Protective security

    National Protective Security Authority

    The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) is part of MI5 and offers advice to businesses and organisations to help keep them and their customers safe from a range of national security threats.

  • How we work

    How we work

    Discover how MI5 works to protect against threats to national security through intelligence gathering techniques, partnerships and legislation.

    Gathering intelligence

    Interception of communications
    Equipment interference
    Covert surveillance
    Covert Human Intelligence Sources
    Bulk data

    Managing information

    Thames House
  • Threats and Advice

    Threats and Advice

    Find out how you can play your part in keeping the country safe – either as a member of the public, or as a potential new recruit.

    Terrorism threat levels

    Resources and Links

    National Protective Security Authority

    The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) is part of MI5 and offers advice to businesses and organisations to help keep them and their customers safe from a range of national security threats.

  • History

    History

    Find out more about the history of MI5.

    MI5's Early Years

    The establishment of the Secret Service Bureau
    World War I
    Carl Hans Lody

    Between the wars

    The inter-war years
    The Soviet threat between the wars

    World War II

    MI5 in World War II
    The Battle for Gibraltar
    Agent GARBO
    Eddie Chapman - Agent ZIGZAG
    Eric Roberts' undercover work in World War II
    Hitler's last days

    The Cold War

    Bad Nenndorf
    The British Empire and Commonwealth
    Klaus Fuchs
    Portland spy ring
    The 'Wilson Plot'
    The threat of subversion
    The later Cold War

    MI5 in the 1990s and 2000s

    Terrorist threat in the 1980s
    Changes and reforms
    Since the Cold War
    The rise of the Islamist terrorist threat

    Managing information

    Thames House

    Centenary History

    Centenary History Policy on Disclosure

    Managing information

    Thames House

    MI5's Early years

    The establishment of the Secret Service Bureau

    World War I

    Carl Hans Lody

  • News
  • Careers

How We Work

Gathering Intelligence

Analysing Intelligence

Law, oversight and ethics

Evidence and Disclosure

Managing information

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UK intelligence Partners

About MI5

About us

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Working At MI5

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