MI5 lied to courts to defend handling of violent neo-Nazi agent
BBC Investigation Correspondent
The BBC can reveal that MI5 lied to three courts while defending the handling of misogynistic neo-Nazi agents who attacked his girlfriend with a machete.
The Security Bureau asked security guards to tell the judge that it adheres to its policy of not confirming or denying the identity of informants.
In fact, MI5 revealed the man’s status on the phone call to me because it tried to convince me not to investigate the man – only publicly known as Agent X.
The service actively maintains its position until I provide evidence that it is incorrect, including recording one of the calls.
The BBC can reveal:
- MI5 lies first in court case, government attempts to stop BBC Report on the wrongdoing of agent X – and successfully ban us from naming foreign nations
- Security departments then repeated the lie to a professional court where the woman attacked Beth’s well-known machete with a machete – seeking answers about MI5’s handling of its agents
- It repets lies to judicial review again, Beth is challenging the ruling of professional courts
- A senior official said he was legally authorized to tell me that X is an agent – so MI5 did not stick to its policy of not confirming or denying the identity of the agent
In unprecedented humiliation, MI5 now issues an “unreserved apology” to the BBC and all three courts, describing what happened as a “serious mistake” and saying “MI5 assumes full responsibility”.
Now, MI5 Director General Sir Ken McCallum will put pressure on what he knows as the official said he has been legally authorized to disclose X’s role.
This has also attracted attention to the reliability of MI5 evidence in the courts and the sustainability of one of its core confidentiality policies.
Beth’s case will now return to a professional court, which is investigating whether the Security Bureau has violated her human rights by protecting her from X’s abuse and compulsory behavior.
It will reconsider whether the right ruling should be heard in a closed meeting where she was unable to attend.
“I think this raises real concerns about MI5 transparency, whether we can trust MI5,” said Kate Ellis of the Center for Women’s Justice, to the BBC. The evidence is trusted by the court.”
Apply to the High Court for the Deputy Director of the Security Bureau (known as Witness A.
The service has maintained its long-term approach, neither confirming nor denying the identity of the agent—the abbreviation of NCND’s famous policy—and misrepresented MI5 officials on my phone.
During a brief hearing on Wednesday granting the license at the Crown Court in London, Judge Zhang said the relevant MI5 evidence was “false”.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper appointed Sir Jonathan Jones KC, former head of the government’s legal services department, as “independent external examiner” to investigate how MI5 provides false evidence to the court.
He was also asked to recommend any changes needed to ensure that the security services provide accurate information to the court in the future.
back We’ve reported on how X scares his partner in 2022Ms. Cooper – and then the Shadow Internal Secretary – Call for “independent assessment” In this case, MI5 deals with a way of concern about “scary and dangerous domestic abuse crimes.”
MI5 said it is conducting an internal investigation into false evidence that could lead to disciplinary action.
Sir James Eadie KC said on behalf of the government in court on Wednesday that the internal MI5 disciplinary process “expresses the seriousness of this”. He said the court will be updated in April.
The BBC questioned the lack of explanation for MI5. In today’s legal filing, the BBC invited the court to take further steps to ensure that such “serious violations are properly investigated” and to ensure that the results of any investigation are brought into the public sphere.
The exposure of MI5’s false testimony will also undermine its credibility in other court proceedings, where judges are obliged to give great weight and respect to the evidence from the security department.
These often involve secret hearings, which are closed to even the most affected – including Beth, the people whose relatives were killed in the attack and those whose British citizenship has been deprived.
MI5 acknowledged the issue and said in a legal filing Wednesday that it was “a keen awareness of the specific liability that MI5 assumes” and that the court must be able to “full trust in any evidence it provides.”
The Security Agency insists that NCND policy is crucial to maintaining national security and ensuring agents’ safety. However, the BBC’s revelation will increase concerns about how policy is used, including that it may be liable for abuse of a position or a crime.
Since the senior MI5 official told me that the disclosure of the agent’s identity is legally authorized, it means it has been signed by lawyers and other senior figures in MI5. According to NCND’s departure policy, the Ministry of the Interior and the Cabinet Office should also be informed.
In a new witness statement, the deputy director of MI5 said he apologized “in sincerity” for providing incorrect evidence.
He said the false information “reflected my honest belief at the time and accurately reflected the information I received.”
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