Difference between revisions of "MI5 D Branch"

From Powerbase
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (spacing)
Line 10: Line 10:
  
 
===1953-Counter-espionage===
 
===1953-Counter-espionage===
 +
*'''Main Page: [[MI5 D Branch 1953-68]]'''
 +
 
In [[Dick White]]'s 1953 re-organisation of the Service, D Branch became the division responsible for counter-espionage.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.327.</ref>
 
In [[Dick White]]'s 1953 re-organisation of the Service, D Branch became the division responsible for counter-espionage.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.327.</ref>
  

Revision as of 00:03, 15 November 2010

D Branch is the division of MI5 responsible for non-terrorist threats and protective security, including counter-espionage. It is one of four operational branches which report to the Deputy Director General of the Security Service.[1]

History

The designation 'D Branch' has been applied to a variety of functions over the course of MI5's history.

1916-Imperial Intelligence

The earliest version of D Branch was created in 1916, shortly after the foundation of MI5, to cover imperial and overseas (including Irish) intelligence.[2]

1938-Protective Security

By 1929, MI5 had been reduced to two branches, A and B.[3] In 1938, D Branch was re-established with responsibility for protective security in munitions, aircraft factories and dockyards.[4]

1953-Counter-espionage

In Dick White's 1953 re-organisation of the Service, D Branch became the division responsible for counter-espionage.[5]

In 1968, Michael Hanley was appointed head of D Branch, and carried out a re-organisation which led to its replacement with MI5 K Branch.[6]

1994-Non-terrorist threats

In MI5's organisation as of 1994, D Branch had been re-established. Its current incarnation includes elements of the former C Branch, F Branch and K Branch.

Organisation

Sections

  • D1: Vetting of non-MI5 personnel.
  • D4: Counter-espionage. Targets include Russia and China.
  • D5: D Branch agent runners.[7]

Notes

  1. ↑ Michael Smith, The Spying Game, Politico's, 2003, pp.129-130.
  2. ↑ Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.84.
  3. ↑ Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.127.
  4. ↑ Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.134.
  5. ↑ Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.327.
  6. ↑ Peter Wright, Spycatcher: The Candid Autobiography of Senior Intelligence Officer, Viking, 1987, pp.332-334.
  7. ↑ Mark Hollingsworth and Nick Fielding, Defending the Realm: Inside MI5 and The War on Terrorism, André Deutsch, 2003, pp.320-321.