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Britain's top military brass were relaxed about Spooks Spies chilled about Spooks but military heated over memoirs
(about 3 hours later)
Britain's top military brass and senior Whitehall officials were agitated about special forces talking to the media, concerned about a former MI5 chief writing her memoirs – but remarkably relaxed about the BBC spy show Spooks, hitherto secret documents reveal. Britain's top military brass and senior Whitehall officials were agitated about special forces talking to the media, concerned about a former MI5 chief writing her memoirs – but the spies were relatively relaxed about the BBC spy show Spooks, hitherto secret documents reveal.
The newly-released files give details of passages that were removed from the original manuscript of Secrecy and the Media, the official history of the Defence, Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee, where Whitehall officials oversee a system of voluntary self-censorship with the media. The newly released files give details of passages that were removed from the original manuscript of Secrecy and the Media, the official history of the defence, press and broadcasting advisory committee (DPBAC), where Whitehall officials oversee a system of voluntary self-censorship with the media.
Suppressed passages from the book, published three years ago and written by a senior naval officer, Rear Admiral Nicholas Wilkinson, have now been released by the National Archives, though many remain secret. Suppressed passages from the book, which was written by Rear Admiral Nicholas Wilkinson, and published three years ago, have now been released by the National Archives.
Among the passages to see the light of day are those that refer to the SAS and its naval equivalent the Special Boat Service, which are playing an increasingly important role in British military and counter-insurgency operations, including in Afghanistan and Africa. Many of the passages remain secret but those seeing the light of day include sections that refer to the SAS and its naval equivalent, the Special Boat Service, units that are playing an increasingly important role in British military and counter-insurgency operations, including in Afghanistan and Africa.
The Ministry of Defence refuses to comment officially on any mission involving the special forces but the ban is a source of deep frustration among senior officials in other Whitehall departments and media executives.The Ministry of Defence refuses to comment officially on any mission involving the special forces but the ban is a source of deep frustration among senior officials in other Whitehall departments and media executives.
Newly released passages reveal how the role of UK special forces in an operation to free a group of captured British soldiers held by rebels in Sierra Leone was leaked in 2000 "to the fury of the Ministry of Defence". Newly released passages reveal how details about the role of UK special forces, in an operation to free captured British soldiers held by rebels in Sierra Leone, were leaked in 2000 "to the fury of the Ministry of Defence".
UK paratroopers involved in the Sierra Leone mission "felt under no inhibition about talking frankly about their part in a SF [special forces]-led operation," Wilkinson recorded. He added that "even The Officer magazine, supported by the MoD", carried an article on the SAS role in the operation, prompting the MoD to consider "impounding" the offending publication. UK paratroopers involved in the Sierra Leone mission "felt under no inhibition about talking frankly about their part in a SF-led [special forces] operation", Wilkinson recorded. He added that "even The Officer magazine, supported by the MoD", carried an article on the SAS role in the operation, prompting the MoD to consider "impounding" the offending publication.
Referring to an unidentified incident in the Iraq war, Wilkinson noted that "the inability of the MoD to say anything about the incident caused additional speculation and inaccuracy".Referring to an unidentified incident in the Iraq war, Wilkinson noted that "the inability of the MoD to say anything about the incident caused additional speculation and inaccuracy".
He added: "Almost all the publicity which the UKSF has attracted has been inspired directly by UKSF leakers or through ex-SF leakers."He added: "Almost all the publicity which the UKSF has attracted has been inspired directly by UKSF leakers or through ex-SF leakers."
Media executives and some senior officials in Whitehall say the work of DPBAC – known as the D notice committee – regarding special forces is counterproductive and further erodes the credibility of the system. Many journalists already consider it to be obsolete. Media executives and some Whitehall officials say the work of DPBAC – known as the D notice committee – regarding special forces, is counterproductive and erodes the credibility of the system. Many journalists already consider it obsolete.
Passages of Wilkinson's manuscript hitherto kept secret refer to Stella Rimington's decision to publish her memoirs. "Senior officials had known this for some months and had been trying to dissuade her," Wilkinson wrote. "When it became apparent that this heavy collective (male) pressure was making her even more determined to publish she was widely, and unattributably, briefed against." Passages of Wilkinson's manuscript, up till now kept secret, refer to the decision of Stella Rimington, the former MI5 director general, to publish her memoirs. "Senior officials had known this for some months and had been trying to dissuade her," Wilkinson wrote. "When it became apparent that this heavy collective (male) pressure was making her even more determined to publish, she was widely, and unattributably, briefed against."
Sir Kevin Tebbit, then the MoD's most senior official, is recorded as being most opposed to the memoirs – on the grounds that his ministry was blocking SAS memoirs at the time. Rimington's book, Open Secret, was published in 2001. Sir Kevin Tebbit, then the MoD's most senior official, is recorded as being most opposed to the memoirs on grounds his ministry was blocking SAS memoirs at the time. Rimington's book, Open Secret, was published in 2001.
Some passages in Wilkinson's original manuscript relating to the BBC spy drama Spooks remain withheld. Some passages in Wilkinson's original manuscript relating to the BBC spy drama Spooks remain withheld. But one released passage records: "The security service [MI5] was not only relaxed about the series, its members were very much hoping that Armani suits, plush offices and fast cars, as shown in the series, would somehow become a feature of their considerably less glamorous work, and that its recruitment would benefit (applications did temporarily increase, but those from women dropped, possibly because of the unrealistic level of violence)".
However, one passage, now released, records: "The Security Service [MI5] was not only relaxed about the series, but its members were very much hoping that Armani suits, plush offices and fast cars as shown in the series would somehow become a feature of their considerably less glamorous work, and that its recruitment would benefit (applications did temporarily increase, but those from women dropped, possibly because of the unrealistic level of violence)". The newly released file records that Mark Thomas, the comedian and political activist, asked the D notice committee secretary why "well-known defence and security establishments", including the early warning radar at Fylingdales in North Yorkshire, and the nuclear warhead base at Burghfield, Berkshire, were absent from Ordnance Survey maps.
The newly-released file records that Mark Thomas, the comedian and political activist, asked the D notice committee secretary why "well known defence and security establishments", including the early warning radar at Fylingdales in North Yorkshire and the nuclear warhead base at Burghfield in Berkshire, were absent from Ordnance Survey maps.
The omission is described as a "hangover from cold war days", a "bureaucratic oversight". The D notice secretary explained the current policy: "If a site could be seen from the air or from the road, it could now be shown on a map."The omission is described as a "hangover from cold war days", a "bureaucratic oversight". The D notice secretary explained the current policy: "If a site could be seen from the air or from the road, it could now be shown on a map."
Official stamps on passages in Wilkinson's manuscript that remain secret say these passages have been retained under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act, which states that documents can be suppressed if "they are required for administrative purposes or ought to be retained for any other special reason". Official stamps on passages in Wilkinson's manuscript that remain secret say these passages are retained under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act, which says documents can be suppressed if "they are required for administrative purposes, or ought to be retained for any other special reason".
According to sources familiar with them, some of the passages of Secrecy and the Media were censored after a group of Whitehall officials came up with the rule that official histories should not include matters concerning the administration in power. According to sources familiar with them, some of the passages of Secrecy and the Media were censored after Whitehall officials came up with the rule that official histories should not include matters concerning the administration in power.
The book was published when Labour was still in power but references to incidents that took place before it lost the 2010 general election were withdrawn from the original manuscript. The book was published when Labour was still in power but references to incidents that took place before the party lost the 2010 general election were withdrawn from the manuscript.
However, some of the passages that were censored had already appeared on the D notice website and Wilkinson's entire manuscript had already been cleared by MI5, MI6, GCHQ, as well as the Foreign, Home and Cabinet Offices, the Treasury solicitor, and the attorney general. However, some of the censored passages had already appeared on the D  notice website, and Wilkinson's entire manuscript had already been cleared by MI5, MI6, GCHQ, as well as the Foreign, Home and Cabinet Offices, the Treasury solicitor, and attorney general.