An investigation into MI5’s use of false evidence, in court proceedings concerning an agent with a history of violence against women, has published its findings today.
The highly critical report finds that at least one senior MI5 officer knowingly and repeatedly lied, over a period of several years, about his recollections of past events, and continued to lie in subsequent investigations. A number of other officers are also accused of providing inaccurate information, withholding information, and significantly contributing, by their own conduct, to the maintenance of the false account in legal proceedings.
The investigation, led by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (‘IPCO’), an independent body with oversight of MI5’s activities, follows two previous investigations directed by the Director General and the Home Secretary, which exonerated MI5 officers of any intentional misconduct. But at a series of hearings last summer those investigations were extensively criticised by the courts, causing the Prime Minister to commission a fresh external investigation.
Kate Ellis, Joint Head of Litigation at Centre for Women’s Justice, who acted for ‘Beth’, has said:
“The findings of this investigation could not be clearer: MI5 has lied to the courts in legal proceedings against ‘Beth’ and the BBC. This was not just, as previous investigations have claimed, an unfortunate error.
“Today’s damning report comes just days after the BBC published material from ‘Beth’s’ legal proceedings, which confirmed that MI5 did not address the serious risks that ‘Agent X’ posed to ‘Beth’ and other women.
“The way this case has played out has raised important questions about the accountability of our Security Services – to the courts and indeed the public – and whether there are mechanisms in place to safeguard women from violence perpetrated by state agents.”
‘Beth’, who brought a claim against MI5 in relation to their agent’s abuse, has said:
“Our authorities should have zero tolerance for male violence against women. It is always unacceptable, and all the more so when it is actually enabled by those in positions of power. What today’s report suggests to me once again is that institutions like MI5 always protect their own.”
ENDS