MI5 Archives

Dec

MI6 unilaterally assumed power to break law on UK soil, tribunal reveals

16/12/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

At the Investigatory Powers Tribunal today, it was revealed that MI6 may have unilaterally assumed the power to authorise agents to commit crimes in the UK – potentially without any legal basis or limits on the crimes they can commit. Reprieve, the Pat Finucane Centre, Privacy International, and CAJ have been challenging a secret policy...

Oct

Written evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill

14/10/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

The Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill was introduced to the UK Parliament on 24 September 2020, and is scheduled to complete passage through the House of Commons by 15 October 2020. The Bill will amend existing legislation to create a new process of ‘Criminal Conduct Authorisations’, which will allow MI5, police forces, and a range...

Oct

Briefing for Second Reading of the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill

01/10/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

The Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill was introduced on 24 September 2020, with its Second Reading scheduled for 5 October 2020. The Bill will amend existing legislation to create a new process of ‘Criminal Conduct Authorisations’, which will allow MI5, police forces, and a range of other public authorities to authorise their agents...

Sep

New law lets MI5 authorise crimes with no hard limits

24/09/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

A joint press release from CAJ, Reprieve, Privacy International, and the Pat Finucane Centre. Agents of MI5 and other Government bodies could be legally authorised to commit crimes under new legislation introduced today. There appear to be no express limits in the legislation on the types of crime which could be authorised. The Covert Human...

Jul

MI6 apologise for asking court staff to withhold evidence from Judges in case about crimes by covert agents

27/07/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

MI6 has been forced to apologise to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal after two of its officers asked court staff to return documents relating to MI6’s use of agents and not show them to judges. The Tribunal suggested MI6’s actions were “inappropriate interference”. The revelation emerged in an ongoing legal case considering what crimes intelligence informants...

Dec

Tribunal judges divided on MI5 secret approvals for serious crime

20/12/2019Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

Five judges of the UK’s Investigatory Powers Tribunal have given a divided ruling over a secret MI5 policy allowing security service agents to commit serious crimes on UK soil. The judges decided 3-2 that MI5’s policy was lawful. The claimants in the case confirmed they would immediately seek permission to challenge the ruling at the...

Nov

CAJ concern at ongoing secrecy regarding MI5 remit over British Army operations in Northern Ireland

14/11/2019Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

CAJ has expressed concern at the ongoing secrecy over the potential operational relationship between MI5 and military units operating in Northern Ireland. This follows a ruling by the First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights) (1) to block disclosure of a section (henceforward referred to as ‘the disputed paragraph’) of the British Army’s terms of reference for ‘Operation...

Oct

Tribunal to consider whether MI5 covert agents can commit serious criminal offences

04/10/2018Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

Agents for Britain’s Security Service are authorised to commit serious crimes, on British soil, without informing prosecutors, under a secretive MI5 policy, a court heard today. Reprieve, Privacy International, the Pat Finucane Centre and CAJ are challenging the legality of the scheme before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal in London. The groups’ leading counsel, Ben Jaffey...

May

PSNI agree to release Walker Report to human rights group

01/05/2018Committee on the Administration of JusticePress releases

Freedom of Information Tribunal Hearing 1-2 May CAJ v Information Commissioner & Chief Constable PSNI The 1980 ‘Walker Report’ on RUC Special Branch informant handling Proceedings were adjourned today 1 May 2018 before a sitting of the First Tier (Information Rights) Tribunal in Belfast when an agreement was reached between the PSNI, ICO and human...