Intelligence Community Website

Overview

The United Kingdom's intelligence machinery comprises:

• the central intelligence machinery based in the Cabinet Office;
• the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), often called MI6;
• Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ);
• the Security Service, often called MI5;
• the  Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS), part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD); and
• the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC).

Other parts of Government also contribute to intelligence collection and/or analysis and assessment: for example, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) [External website],  Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) [External website] and Home Office[External website].

SIS, Security Service and GCHQ - collectively known as the Agencies - were not publicly acknowledged for much of their existence. The SIS and Security Service originated in 1909, while there has been an official codebreaker since the 16th century. Their low profile has led to the proliferation of many rumours, myths and false impressions about their work and roles. Since the late 1980s, however, all three of the Agencies have been publicly acknowledged. They are now more open and accountable than at any previous point in their histories.

The operations and functions of the three Agencies are firmly rooted in legislation (see The Legislative Framework for the Agencies). Their funding is provided by a single account approved by Parliament, the Single Intelligence Account (SIA) - see Funding.