Who We Are

Introduction

“The men and women of MI5 are ordinary people, who do extraordinary things. They have a very strong ethos of public service, but yet their work often goes unnoticed in the public domain. They are intensely committed to keeping the country safe, and they are tirelessly professional and ethical in the way they conduct their work.”

Our People and Organisation

MI5 currently employs around 4,000 people. Around 40% of staff are women, just over half are under 40 years old, 8% are from black or ethnic minority backgrounds and 3% have a disability. Around 330 staff currently work in MI5 on secondment or attachment from other government departments and agencies. Staff roles cover a number of areas including investigations, languages, technology, surveillance, communications, information, protective security, administration, building services and catering...

DIRECTOR GENERAL

MI5 is headed by the Director General, currently Andrew Parker. The role of the Director General was set out in the Security Service Act 1989. He is personally responsible for:

the operations and efficiency of MI5;
making an annual report on our work to the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister;
ensuring that we are politically impartial; and
ensuring that we obtain and disclose information only in accordance with our statutory responsibilities.