What is the SIS?

As one of the leading intelligence agencies in the world, the work of the Secret Intelligence Service bears quite a close resemblance to the world of espionage populated by James Bond, but only because their operations are so covert. Unlike the relatively open working practices of the Security Service (MI5), the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) gathers foreign intelligence using highly covert methodology and retains that sense of mystery surrounding the government organisation.

The Intelligence Services Act 1994, states that the role of the MI6 is "to obtain and provide information relating to the actions or intentions of persons outside the British Islands," and to act in the interests of security, defence, foreign and economic policies within the framework set out by the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) and approved by ministers. This legislation also applies to the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), and along with the Security Service Act 1989, provides the framework in which the UK's security services can work. The chief of SIS is known as ‘C’.

How does it fight crime?

At various times throughout its history, the SIS has been thrust into the public eye as a result of high-profile defections, or the disclosure of names of active agents. Throughout it all, the SIS has continued to carry out covert operations all over the world from Northern Ireland, the Middle East, Africa and, most recently, Afghanistan.

The present day SIS comes under the jurisdiction of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and their activities are answerable to Foreign Secretary and the Cabinet. However, for many years this most secretive of government departments was not officially acknowledged. It wasn't until 1994, when the Intelligence Services Act was passed under the then Prime Minister John Major, that its official role was acknowledged and defined.

The role of the SIS has changed markedly with the end of the Cold War, as the need for counter-espionage in Soviet Russia has waned. But the threat of international terrorism has provided a new challenge for them.