To report an imminent threat call 999 or ring the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321
Current national threat level: SUBSTANTIAL Read more about threat levels >>
To report an imminent threat call 999 or ring the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321
Current national threat level: SUBSTANTIAL Read more about threat levels >>
- Home
- 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...
more on Our People and Organisation
DIRECTOR GENERAL
MI5 is headed by the Director General, currently Sir 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.
MI5 has a unique need to embrace diversity
An in-depth knowledge and understanding of a variety of communities is crucial for our work. So it’s important our staff come from a breadth of backgrounds and cultures to reflect the people we work hard to protect.
History
Why MI5 was founded; the fight against German espionage; how MI5 caught German spy Carl Hans Lody.
The years immediately after the First World War saw MI5's size being reduced drastically as a result of post-war cost-cutting. The Service'...
Combating Nazi spies; double agents; the battle for Gibraltar; Hitler's last days; Agent GARBO.
Soviet spies in Britain; the threat of subversion; the growing threat of terrorism.
As the Cold War came to an end, terrorist threats from Northern Ireland and states such as Colonel Qadhafi's Libya became priorities for MI5....
Latest News
view ALL NewsInternational Women's Day: MI5's first female agent runner
To celebrate International Women's Day, we are sharing the fascinating story of Mary Sherer, MI5's first...
ITV documentary - 'Inside MI5'
The documentary showing what life is like for those who work at MI5 was first shown on Thursday 27 February on ITV1.
New Director General of MI5 appointed
The Home Secretary has announced that Ken McCallum has been appointed as Director General of MI5
Awards
