We are SIS – the UK's Secret Intelligence Service - also known as MI6. Our people work secretly around the world to make the UK safer and more prosperous. For over 100 years SIS has ensured the UK and our allies keep one step ahead of our adversaries.
Agents are at the heart of what MI6 does. Usually foreign nationals, they voluntarily work with us to provide secret intelligence that helps to keep the UK - and often the rest of the world – safe and secure. One of our intelligence officers' major roles is identifying, recruiting, and running these agents.
Richard Peter Moore CMG (born 9 May 1963) is a British civil servant, currently chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and formerly Director General for Political Affairs, at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and previously the British ambassador to Turkey.
Far from being a 'maverick' organisation, the CIA was part of an integrated, interdepartmental effort. MI6, however, was beyond the supervision and control of the Foreign Office, the Cabinet, and probably even the Prime Minister.
During the first world war British Intelligence created the Military Intelligence Section 7 (or MI7 for short) that was responsible for collecting data from foreign sources, translating it, and transmitting it back to the allied leadership.
M is a codename held by a number of fictional characters in Ian Fleming's James Bond book and film series; the characters are the current or past Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, the agency known as MI6.
MI1 or British Military Intelligence, Section 1 was a department of the British Directorate of Military Intelligence, part of the War Office. It was set up during World War I. It contained "C&C", which was responsible for code breaking.
Starting salaries for the three agencies - GCHQ, MI5 and MI6 - are in the region of £30,000 to £35,000, plus benefits. There are opportunities to progress to higher grades, with salaries reaching around £40,000 to £45,000 after five to ten years' service.
Despite a reliance on UKSF for special operations, SIS operatives still receive training in the use of firearms, including pistols and submachine guns. It would be rare, however, for an SIS Intelligence Officer to fire or even carry a firearm in the line of duty.
The head of MI6 has revealed he only writes in green ink, whether on paper or on his computer, in homage to a tradition established by the very first 'C', who set up the intelligence service over a century ago.
Typically, the MI6 recruitment process begins with a short application via its website to confirm you meet the initial eligibility criteria. This is followed by a combination of online forms, online tests, interviews and assessment centres, which varies according to the role applied for.
The chief of the Secret Intelligence Service typically signs letters with a "C" in green ink. This originates from the initial used by Captain Sir Mansfield Smith-Cumming, when he signed a letter "C" in green ink. Since then the chief has been known as "C".
The secrecy surrounding its work is one – MI6 cannot disclose too much and, in truth, has been less willing to open up in recent years than either of its sister agencies, MI5 or GCHQ. “The nature of our work is difficult,” said Sarah, a senior field officer who is the current head of recruitment.
Candidates must normally have been resident in the UK for seven out of the last ten years. This is particularly important if you were born outside the UK. You can apply at the age of 17 years and 6 months, if successful you will not be offered a start date prior to your 18th birthday.
You will join a diverse, skillful community of like-minded individuals to complete a 2 year training programme.
You're allowed to tell close and trusted loved ones where you work, if you wish to. But to protect yours and their safety, as well as that of your colleagues and their families, you won't be able to tell anyone outside of your immediate family.
The 1967 film adaptation of Fleming's first novel, Casino Royale, spoofed the EON film series. As part of its storyline, Sir James Bond (David Niven), after having assumed the position of M, mandates that all MI6 agents – male and female – be renamed James Bond 007 in order to confuse enemy agents of SMERSH.
Yes. MI5 is a government department under the authority of the Secretary of State - in practice the Home Secretary.
For MI6, there are many graduate opportunities available. For most roles, you will need at least a 2.2 in your undergraduate degree to apply. Given the nature of MI6's work, there are no advertised work experience opportunities.
Previously at least one of an applicant's parents had to be British or from some other countries to be able to join us. However, from today (November 2) this requirement has been removed and candidates now only need to be a British citizen to apply for a job with MI5, MI6 or GCHQ.
This puts forward 'a tentative list', on Page 29, comprising thus; MI1: Director of Military Intelligence, also Cryptography MI2: Responsible for Russia and Scandanavia MI3: Responsible for Germany and Eastern Europe MI4: Aerial Reconnaisance MI5: Domestic Intelligence and Security MI6: Foreign Intelligence and ...
Administrative / biographical background: MI9 was established on 23 December 1939 as a new branch of British intelligence to provide escape and evasion support, and to facilitate the return of British prisoners of war and others who evaded capture.
MI3, the British Military Intelligence Section 3, was a division of the British Directorate of Military Intelligence, part of the War Office. It was originally set up to handle geographical information. Its subsections in 1914 included: MI3a: France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Morocco.