TheSecurity Service, commonly known asMI5, is one of threeBritishintelligence agencies. It is the security agency responsible forcounter-intelligence inside theUnited Kingdom. It gives the government information about hostile activities inside the UK. Theslang term for MI5 inside the security services is "Box 500", after its old wartime postal address. Priorities are set by theJoint Intelligence Committee. All its employees are bound by theOfficial Secrets Act.
TheSecret Intelligence Service (orMI6) is responsible for intelligence collection outside the UK, and theGovernment Communications Headquarters is responsible for providingsignals intelligence.
The arm of the law which works for MI5 is known informally asSpecial Branch. They have been rearranged as part of theMetropolitan Police'sCounter Terrorism Command. MI5 staff do not have the power of arrest: what they do is instruct Special Branch, who then do the leg-work and interrogation of suspects.
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