In an article in the Telegraph we learn MI5 may be prepared to cut corners to catch 'terrorists' - now there is a surprise.
Jonathan Evans, the director-general of the security service, said he had to warn new recruits to keep their activities “legal” and “proportionate” in order to retain the trust of ministers and the public.
He was speaking as the Government braces itself for a rebellion over plans for a new generation of secret courts that will allow evidence from the intelligence services to be heard in private. Critics, including senior lawyers and former Army officers, say the Justice and Security Bill will allow intelligence officers who are complicit in torture and rendition to evade public scrutiny.
Jonathan Evans, the director-general of the security service, said he had to warn new recruits to keep their activities “legal” and “proportionate” in order to retain the trust of ministers and the public.
He was speaking as the Government braces itself for a rebellion over plans for a new generation of secret courts that will allow evidence from the intelligence services to be heard in private. Critics, including senior lawyers and former Army officers, say the Justice and Security Bill will allow intelligence officers who are complicit in torture and rendition to evade public scrutiny.
Jonathan Evans, the director-general of the security service, said he had to warn new recruits to keep their activities “legal” and “proportionate” in order to retain the trust of ministers and the public.
He was speaking as the Government braces itself for a rebellion over plans for a new generation of secret courts that will allow evidence from the intelligence services to be heard in private. Critics, including senior lawyers and former Army officers, say the Justice and Security Bill will allow intelligence officers who are complicit in torture and rendition to evade public scrutiny.
However, ministers say that foreign agencies such as the CIA are already cutting the amount of intelligence they share with Britain for fear that it may be released in open court.
In a rare public interview, Mr Evans conceded on Radio 4 that MI5 must be seen to act in an “ethical” manner in order to retain the trust of the public.
“One of the things I say always to new members of the Service is that there may be a temptation to cut those corners but in the longer term that will be a real problem to us,” he said.
Article can be found here
He was speaking as the Government braces itself for a rebellion over plans for a new generation of secret courts that will allow evidence from the intelligence services to be heard in private. Critics, including senior lawyers and former Army officers, say the Justice and Security Bill will allow intelligence officers who are complicit in torture and rendition to evade public scrutiny.
However, ministers say that foreign agencies such as the CIA are already cutting the amount of intelligence they share with Britain for fear that it may be released in open court.
In a rare public interview, Mr Evans conceded on Radio 4 that MI5 must be seen to act in an “ethical” manner in order to retain the trust of the public.
“One of the things I say always to new members of the Service is that there may be a temptation to cut those corners but in the longer term that will be a real problem to us,” he said.
Article can be found here