Difference between revisions of "MI5 K Branch"

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''K Branch'' was the division of [[MI5]] responsible for counter-espionage in the service's organisation from 1968. Prior to this time, this had been [[MI5 D Branch|D Branch]].
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'''K Branch''' was a former division of [[MI5]] responsible for counter-espionage in the service's organisation from 1968. Prior to this time, this had been [[MI5 D Branch 1953-68|D Branch]].
<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.860.</ref> The re-organisation was carried out by [[Michael Hanley]] as head of counter-espionage. [[Peter Wright]] claims that he persuaded Hanley and [[Martin Furnival Jones]] to include a formal mechanism for investigating penetration of the service.<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref>
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<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.860.</ref> The re-organisation was carried out by [[Michael Hanley]] as head of counter-espionage. [[Peter Wright]] claimed that he persuaded Hanley and [[Martin Furnival Jones]] to include a formal mechanism for investigating penetration of the service.<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref>
 
K branch was reincorporated into a new D Branch in the service's organisation of 1994.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.864.</ref>
 
K branch was reincorporated into a new D Branch in the service's organisation of 1994.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.864.</ref>
  
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===Directors===
 
===Directors===
 
*[[John Deverell]] - C.1983<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.715.</ref>  
 
*[[John Deverell]] - C.1983<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.715.</ref>  
*[[Stella Rimington]] - C.1986.<ref>Mark Hollingsworth and Nick Fielding, Defending the Realm: Inside MI5 and the War on Terrorism, Andé Deutsch, 2003, p.134.</ref>
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*[[Stella Rimington]] - 1986-88<ref>Paul Lashmar, PROFILE: STELLA RIMINGTON - RESPECTABLE FACE OF ESPIONAGE, The Independent, 20 May 2000.</ref>
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===KX===
 
===KX===
 
Responsible for investigative work, according to Peter Wright, and controlled sections, K1, K2, K3 and K7.<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref>
 
Responsible for investigative work, according to Peter Wright, and controlled sections, K1, K2, K3 and K7.<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref>
 
*[[John Allen]], Director KX, C.1972.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.629.</ref>
 
*[[John Allen]], Director KX, C.1972.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.629.</ref>
 
====K1====
 
====K1====
K1 and K2 were Soviet and satellite investigating sections, according to [[Peter Wright]].<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref>
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K1 and K2 were Soviet and satellite investigating sections, according to [[Peter Wright]].<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref> K1's work focused on Government Departments, according to Stephen Dorril.<ref>Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.</ref>
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*[[David Bannerman]], section head, c.1981-83.<ref>Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.</ref>
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====K2====
 
====K2====
*K2 [[Charles Elwell]], C.1973.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.576.</ref>
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Soviet Intelligence Service, illegals.<ref>Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.</ref>
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*[[Charles Elwell]], section head, c.1973.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.576.</ref>
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*[[Nigel Croom]], section head, c.1981-83.<ref>Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.</ref>
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====K3====
 
====K3====
 
Soviet agent-running section according to [[Christopher Andrew]].<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.708.</ref> Peter Wright describes it as a research section, cut out of the old D3.<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref>
 
Soviet agent-running section according to [[Christopher Andrew]].<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.708.</ref> Peter Wright describes it as a research section, cut out of the old D3.<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref>
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*[[Ian Chalmers]] of [[MI6]]. Section head, c.1981-83.<ref>Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.</ref>
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====K7====
 
====K7====
 
Section responsible for investigating Soviet penetration.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.571.</ref>
 
Section responsible for investigating Soviet penetration.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.571.</ref>
 
*K7 [[Duncum Wagh]] - C.1968<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref>
 
*K7 [[Duncum Wagh]] - C.1968<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref>
 
*K7 [[John Day]] - C.1970<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.516.</ref>
 
*K7 [[John Day]] - C.1970<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.516.</ref>
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*K7 [[Imbert Bourdillon]], section head, c.1981-83.<ref>Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.</ref>
 
====KY====
 
====KY====
 
Soviet investigations branch, according to David Leigh.<ref>David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.185.</ref> Responsible for order of battle and operations, according to [[Peter Wright]], comprising K4, K5 and K6.<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref>
 
Soviet investigations branch, according to David Leigh.<ref>David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.185.</ref> Responsible for order of battle and operations, according to [[Peter Wright]], comprising K4, K5 and K6.<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref>
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====K4====
 
====K4====
 
Section responsible for investigations and analysis of Soviet residencies in London.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.714.</ref> Peter Wright describes the work as 'order of battle.'<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref>
 
Section responsible for investigations and analysis of Soviet residencies in London.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.714.</ref> Peter Wright describes the work as 'order of battle.'<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref>
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*[[Anne Orr-Ewing]], section head, c.1981-83.<ref>Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.</ref>
 
*[[Michael Bettaney]], attempted to become [[KGB]] agent, 1983.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.714.</ref>
 
*[[Michael Bettaney]], attempted to become [[KGB]] agent, 1983.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.714.</ref>
 
*K4A/1 Officer involved in Bettany case, 1983<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.719.</ref>
 
*K4A/1 Officer involved in Bettany case, 1983<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.719.</ref>
 
*K4C/1 Officer involved in Bettany case, 1983<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.717.</ref>
 
*K4C/1 Officer involved in Bettany case, 1983<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.717.</ref>
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====K5====
 
====K5====
 
Joint MI5/[[MI6]] counter-intelligence section.<ref>David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.241.</ref> Agent-running and operations, according to Wright.<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref>
 
Joint MI5/[[MI6]] counter-intelligence section.<ref>David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.241.</ref> Agent-running and operations, according to Wright.<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref>
 
*K5 [[Harry Wharton]], MI5 section head, c. 1975.<ref>David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.</ref>
 
*K5 [[Harry Wharton]], MI5 section head, c. 1975.<ref>David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.</ref>
 
*[[James Spiers]], [[MI6]] section head, c. 1975.<ref>David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.</ref>
 
*[[James Spiers]], [[MI6]] section head, c. 1975.<ref>David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.</ref>
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*[[John Grayburn]], section head, c.1981-83.<ref>Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.</ref>
 
*K5B/1 [[Tony Brooks]], c.1972.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.627.</ref>  
 
*K5B/1 [[Tony Brooks]], c.1972.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.627.</ref>  
 
*[[Jeremy Wetherell]], c. 1975.<ref>David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.</ref>
 
*[[Jeremy Wetherell]], c. 1975.<ref>David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.</ref>
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====K6====
 
====K6====
 
Registry which held agents personal 'Y' files.<ref>David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.</ref> According to Wright, it was responsible for "all security assessments and compiling the specialist records, ministerial briefings, special indexes, and record collection which previously had been under my control in D3."<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref>
 
Registry which held agents personal 'Y' files.<ref>David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.</ref> According to Wright, it was responsible for "all security assessments and compiling the specialist records, ministerial briefings, special indexes, and record collection which previously had been under my control in D3."<ref>Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.</ref>
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*[[Duncun Waugh]], section head, c.1981-83.<ref>Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.</ref>
 
*[[Ray Whitby]]<ref>David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.</ref>
 
*[[Ray Whitby]]<ref>David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.</ref>
 
*[[Robert Holden]]<ref>David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.</ref>
 
*[[Robert Holden]]<ref>David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.</ref>
 
*K6/7 Officer involved in Bettany case, 1983.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.716.</ref>
 
*K6/7 Officer involved in Bettany case, 1983.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.716.</ref>
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====K8====
 
====K8====
 
Section responsibilities included monitoring Chinese intelligence operations.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.788.</ref>
 
Section responsibilities included monitoring Chinese intelligence operations.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.788.</ref>
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*[[Bill Patten]], section head, c.1981-83.<ref>Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.</ref>
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====K10====
 
====K10====
 
*K10B - Counter-proliferation unit set up in 1991.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.788.</ref>
 
*K10B - Counter-proliferation unit set up in 1991.<ref>Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.788.</ref>
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*[[Eliza Manningham-Buller]]
 
*[[Eliza Manningham-Buller]]
 
*[[Miranda Ingram]]
 
*[[Miranda Ingram]]
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*[[John Day]]<ref>GREAT BRITAIN: MI5 Indirectly Supports Overview, Intelligence Newsletter, 15 April 1993.</ref>
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==

Latest revision as of 22:25, 14 February 2012

K Branch was a former division of MI5 responsible for counter-espionage in the service's organisation from 1968. Prior to this time, this had been D Branch. [1] The re-organisation was carried out by Michael Hanley as head of counter-espionage. Peter Wright claimed that he persuaded Hanley and Martin Furnival Jones to include a formal mechanism for investigating penetration of the service.[2] K branch was reincorporated into a new D Branch in the service's organisation of 1994.[3]

Organisation

Under the 1968 re-organisation, K Branch consisted of two separate units, KX and KY, each with their own director on the MI5 board.[4] KX and KY were amalgamated in 1976.[5]

Directors

KX

Responsible for investigative work, according to Peter Wright, and controlled sections, K1, K2, K3 and K7.[8]

K1

K1 and K2 were Soviet and satellite investigating sections, according to Peter Wright.[10] K1's work focused on Government Departments, according to Stephen Dorril.[11]

K2

Soviet Intelligence Service, illegals.[13]

K3

Soviet agent-running section according to Christopher Andrew.[16] Peter Wright describes it as a research section, cut out of the old D3.[17]

K7

Section responsible for investigating Soviet penetration.[19]

KY

Soviet investigations branch, according to David Leigh.[23] Responsible for order of battle and operations, according to Peter Wright, comprising K4, K5 and K6.[24]

K4

Section responsible for investigations and analysis of Soviet residencies in London.[27] Peter Wright describes the work as 'order of battle.'[28]

K5

Joint MI5/MI6 counter-intelligence section.[33] Agent-running and operations, according to Wright.[34]

K6

Registry which held agents personal 'Y' files.[40] According to Wright, it was responsible for "all security assessments and compiling the specialist records, ministerial briefings, special indexes, and record collection which previously had been under my control in D3."[41]

K8

Section responsibilities included monitoring Chinese intelligence operations.[46]

K10

  • K10B - Counter-proliferation unit set up in 1991.[48]

Other K Branch officers

Notes

  1. Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.860.
  2. Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
  3. Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.864.
  4. Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
  5. Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.861.
  6. Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.715.
  7. Paul Lashmar, PROFILE: STELLA RIMINGTON - RESPECTABLE FACE OF ESPIONAGE, The Independent, 20 May 2000.
  8. Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
  9. Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.629.
  10. Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
  11. Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
  12. Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
  13. Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
  14. Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.576.
  15. Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
  16. Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.708.
  17. Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
  18. Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
  19. Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.571.
  20. Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
  21. Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.516.
  22. Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
  23. David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.185.
  24. Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
  25. David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.185.
  26. David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.185.
  27. Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.714.
  28. Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
  29. Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
  30. Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.714.
  31. Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.719.
  32. Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.717.
  33. David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.241.
  34. Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
  35. David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.
  36. David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.
  37. Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
  38. Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.627.
  39. David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.
  40. David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.
  41. Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
  42. Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
  43. David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.
  44. David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.
  45. Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.716.
  46. Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.788.
  47. Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
  48. Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.788.
  49. GREAT BRITAIN: MI5 Indirectly Supports Overview, Intelligence Newsletter, 15 April 1993.