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Allegorical sketch of Mary, Queen of Scots, Cat ref: SP52/13/60Security and Intelligence History - Your guide to resources  
Allegorical sketch of Mary, Queen of Scots, Cat ref: SP52/13/60  
Allegorical sketch of Mary, Queen of Scots, Cat ref: SP52/13/60  
 
   

Getting started

The United Kingdom has three intelligence and security services, collectively known as the Agencies

  • The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS),
  • Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and
  • The Security Service.

The work of the Agencies is supplemented by the Defence Intelligence Staff, which is an integral part of the Ministry of Defence, and the Metropolitan Police Special Branch. The intelligence collected by these organisations is either passed directly in the form of reports to customer departments in Government or contributes to longer-term analysis. The main body responsible for advising on priorities for intelligence gathering and for assessing its results is the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) which coordinates national intelligence requirements.

Read about National Intelligence Machinery from the official documents websiteExternal website - link opens in a new window

Advisory Group on Security and Intelligence Records

The Cabinet OfficeExternal website - link opens in a new window has established an interdepartmental Advisory Group on Security and Intelligence Records which considers a range of issues concerning intelligence related records. The group's first formal meeting was held in July 2004.