Introduction to Intelligence Collection

Without covert intelligence we cannot investigate the threats facing the UK. Getting a key piece of intelligence from a phone call, a surveillance report or from a human source can illuminate a threat or change the course of an investigation, at times making the difference between a bomb going off or not. There are a range of roles at the forefront of our intelligence collection effort. Some require specific skills such as a language or technical aptitude; others are open to anyone who wants to join MI5 for an exciting and fast-paced career.

Agent Handlers

Our Agent Handlers work covertly with agents who provide information critical to protecting national security. Agents are not employees of MI5 but people who have information relating to threats facing the UK that we would not otherwise have access to.

Find out more about Agent Handlers

Mobile Surveillance Officers

Our Mobile Surveillance Officers follow subjects who have been identified as potential threats to national security. They observe people and places in a wide range of environments, so it is vital that they are able to blend into the background at all times.

Find out more about Mobile Surveillance Officers

Covert Technical Operations Specialists

Our Covert Technical Operations Specialists take the lead in deploying a wide range of advanced MI5 technical capability to enable intelligence collection in fast paced and high profile investigations. They play a key role in progressing investigations helping to develop methods that allow us access to the computers and devices used by terrorist groups that pose a serious threat to national security.

My team and I collected the key piece of intelligence that led to a terrorist attack being stopped

Why Join MI5

A career at MI5 is like no other.  Not only is it rewarding and unique but the variety here is like no-where else.  It is this variety that means most people stay at MI5 as they are able to fulfil all their career ambitions here without ever having to leave.  We are also committed to rewarding the people who work for us and demonstrating our appreciation for their vital contribution by offering an excellent range of benefits.  And due to the nature of our work it means you can’t take it home with you, so when you leave the office you really do leave your work behind you, providing you with an excellent work-life balance. Whatever role you perform, you will be directly contributing to keeping the country safe.

Mobile Surveillance

Join us as a Mobile Surveillance Officer at MI5 and help keep people across the UK safe.

As a valued member of a diverse team, you’ll follow subjects of national security investigations by foot and by car. Your observation skills, quick thinking and ability to fit into your environment mean you’ll be able to make a big contribution.

We have developed some tasks that reflect the nature of the work of our Mobile Surveillance Officers to enable you to assess your suitability for the role. Take this challenge to check your observation skills and ability to recall detail. When you have finished, try the map reading exercise on the next page.

Mobile Surveillance

We have developed some tasks that reflect the nature of the work of our Mobile Surveillance Officers to enable you to assess your suitability for the role. Take this challenge to check your observation skills and ability to recall detail.

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