Editing MI5 (section)

==Organisation==
=== Structure ===
The Security Service comes under the authority of the [[Home Secretary]] within the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]].<ref name=SSAct>{{Cite web|url=https://www.Legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/5/section/1/enacted|title=Security Service Act 1989: The Security Service|website=www.Legislation.gov.uk|publisher=[[HM Government]]|access-date=27 August 2017}}</ref>  The service is headed by a Director General (DG) at the grade of a [[Permanent Secretary]] of the [[British Civil Service|Civil Service]], who is directly supported by an internal security organisation, secretariat, legal advisory branch, and information services branch.  The Deputy Director General is responsible for the operational activity of the service, being responsible for four branches; international counter-terrorism, National Security Advice Centre (counter proliferation and counter espionage), Irish and domestic counter-terrorism, and technical and surveillance operations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.MI5.gov.uk/people-and-organisation|title=People and organisation|website=www.MI5.gov.uk|publisher=MI5|access-date=21 November 2018}}</ref>

The service is directed for intelligence operational priorities by the Joint Intelligence Committee.<ref name=ISAct>{{Cite web|url=http://www.Legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/13/contents|title=Intelligence Services Act 1994|website=www.Legislation.gov.uk|publisher=[[HM Government]]|access-date=27 August 2017}}</ref> It liaises with SIS, GCHQ, [[Defence Intelligence Staff|DI]], and a number of other bodies within the British government, and industrial base.  It is overseen by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Members of Parliament, who are directly appointed by the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], and by the [[Investigatory Powers Commissioner]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Investigatory Powers Commissioner establishes oversight regime|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/investigatory-powers-commissioner-establishes-oversight-regime|access-date=6 January 2021|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref> Judicial oversight of the service's conduct is exercised by the [[Investigatory Powers Tribunal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.IPT-UK.com/sections.asp?sectionID=22&type=top|title=What the Tribunal can investigate|website=www.IPT-UK.com|publisher=[[Investigatory Powers Tribunal]]|access-date=6 July 2014}}</ref>

=== Legislation ===
Operations of the service are required to be proportionate, and compliant with British legislation, including the [[Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000]], the [[Investigatory Powers Act 2016]], the [[Data Protection Act 2018]], and various other items of legislation.  Information held by the service is exempt from disclosure under section 23 of the [[Freedom of Information Act 2000]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.OPSI.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/ukpga_20000036_en_3#pt2-l1g23|title=Freedom of Information Act, section 23|website=www.OPSI.gov.uk|publisher=[[Office of Public Sector Information]]|access-date=3 February 2009}}</ref> The Security Service Act of 1989 establishes several legal key mechanisms aimed at ensuring the accountability and control of the Service.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=13 May 2024 |title=Law, oversight and ethics |url=https://www.mi5.gov.uk/how-we-work/law-oversight-and-ethics|access-date=13 May 2024 |website=MI5}}</ref> Certain provisions from this act were later integrated into the Intelligence Services Act of 1994 with European Commission on Human Rights later having endorsed these mechanisms in multiple applications under the European Convention on Human Rights.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MI5 The Security Service |url=https://cryptome.org/jya/mi5.htm#6 |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=cryptome.org}}</ref> Additionally, the Service is subject to oversight and accountability through various other means. These oversight mechanisms have evolved over time to meet changing governmental requirements, with the Service now being held accountable through a variety of oversight arrangements.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=MI5 The Security Service |url=https://cryptome.org/jya/mi5.htm#6 |access-date=13 May 2024|website=cryptome.org}}</ref>
=== Oversight ===
All employees of the service are bound by the [[Official Secrets Act 1989|Official Secrets Act]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Leach|first1=Robert|last2=Coxall|first2=Bill|last3=Robins|first3=Lynton|date=17 August 2011|title=British Politics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l6McBQAAQBAJ&q=MI5+officers+bound+by+the++Official+Secrets+Act&pg=PA341|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-0-230-34422-8|page=341|access-date=11 July 2015}}</ref>  In certain circumstances, officers handling agents or informers may authorise them to carry out activity which would otherwise be criminal within the United Kingdom.<ref name=Guardian-20180302>{{Cite news|last=Grierson|first=Jamie|date=2 March 2018|url=https://www.TheGuardian.com/uk-news/2018/mar/02/mi5-agents-are-allowed-to-commit-in-uk-government-reveals|title=MI5 agents can commit crime in UK, government reveals|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=3 March 2018}}</ref> The Security Service "is authorised to investigate any person or movement that might threaten the...security" of the United Kingdom.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=11 April 2023 |title=MI5 |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/MI5 |access-date=9 May 2023 |publisher=[[Encyclopedia Britannica]] |language=en}}</ref> The current Director General is [[Ken McCallum]], who succeeded [[Andrew Parker, Baron Parker of Minsmere|Andrew Parker]] in April 2020.<ref name="HomeOffice">{{Cite web|title=Appointment of the new Director General of the Security Service|url=https://www.GOV.uk/government/news/appointment-of-the-new-director-general-of-the-security-service|website=www.GOV.uk|publisher=[[Home Office]]|date=28 March 2013|access-date=20 August 2013}}</ref>

=== Centenary and awards ===
The service marked its centenary in 2009 by publishing an official history titled ''[[The Defence of the Realm|The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5]]'', written by [[Christopher Andrew (historian)|Christopher Andrew]], Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.MI5.gov.uk/home/mi5-history/mi5---the-authorised-centenary-history.html|title=MI5 – The authorised centenary history|website=www.MI5.gov.uk|publisher=MI5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930065302/https://www.mi5.gov.uk/home/mi5-history/mi5---the-authorised-centenary-history.html|archive-date=30 September 2013|access-date=8 June 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Members of the Security Service are recognised annually by [[King Charles III]] at the [[Prince of Wales's Intelligence Community Awards]] at [[St James's Palace]] or [[Clarence House]] alongside members of the [[MI6|Secret Intelligence Service]] (MI6), and [[GCHQ]].<ref name="Mayer2016">{{cite book|last=Mayer|first=Catherine|title=Charles: the Heart of a King|publisher=[[Ebury Publishing]]|year=2016|isbn=978-0-7535-5595-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZpnACwAAQBAJ&pg=PA175|access-date=24 October 2021|page=175}}</ref> Awards and citations are given to teams within the agencies as well as individuals.<ref name="Mayer2016" />