MI5 K Branch

K Branch was a former division of MI5 responsible for counter-espionage in the service's organisation from 1968. Prior to this time, this had been D Branch.
Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.860. The re-organisation was carried out by Michael Hanley as head of counter-espionage. Peter Wright claimed that he persuaded Hanley and Martin Furnival Jones to include a formal mechanism for investigating penetration of the service.Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
K branch was reincorporated into a new D Branch in the service's organisation of 1994.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.864.
==Organisation==
Under the 1968 re-organisation, K Branch consisted of two separate units, KX and KY, each with their own director on the MI5 board.Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334. KX and KY were amalgamated in 1976.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.861.
===Directors===
*John Deverell - C.1983Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.715. 
*Stella Rimington - 1986-88Paul Lashmar, PROFILE: STELLA RIMINGTON - RESPECTABLE FACE OF ESPIONAGE, The Independent, 20 May 2000.
===KX===
Responsible for investigative work, according to Peter Wright, and controlled sections, K1, K2, K3 and K7.Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
*John Allen, Director KX, C.1972.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.629.
====K1====
K1 and K2 were Soviet and satellite investigating sections, according to Peter Wright.Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334. K1's work focused on Government Departments, according to Stephen Dorril.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
*David Bannerman, section head, c.1981-83.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
====K2====
Soviet Intelligence Service, illegals.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
*Charles Elwell, section head, c.1973.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.576.
*Nigel Croom, section head, c.1981-83.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
====K3====
Soviet agent-running section according to Christopher Andrew.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.708. Peter Wright describes it as a research section, cut out of the old D3.Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
*Ian Chalmers of MI6. Section head, c.1981-83.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
====K7====
Section responsible for investigating Soviet penetration.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.571.
*K7 Duncum Wagh - C.1968Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
*K7 John Day - C.1970Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.516.
*K7 Imbert Bourdillon, section head, c.1981-83.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
====KY====
Soviet investigations branch, according to David Leigh.David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.185. Responsible for order of battle and operations, according to Peter Wright, comprising K4, K5 and K6.Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
*Alex MacDonald, head of KY to 1970.David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.185.
*Christopher Herbert, Head of KY from 1970.David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.185.
====K4====
Section responsible for investigations and analysis of Soviet residencies in London.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.714. Peter Wright describes the work as 'order of battle.'Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
*Anne Orr-Ewing, section head, c.1981-83.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
*Michael Bettaney, attempted to become KGB agent, 1983.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.714.
*K4A/1 Officer involved in Bettany case, 1983Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.719.
*K4C/1 Officer involved in Bettany case, 1983Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.717.
====K5====
Joint MI5/MI6 counter-intelligence section.David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.241. Agent-running and operations, according to Wright.Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
*K5 Harry Wharton, MI5 section head, c. 1975.David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.
*James Spiers, MI6 section head, c. 1975.David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.
*John Grayburn, section head, c.1981-83.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
*K5B/1 Tony Brooks, c.1972.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.627. 
*Jeremy Wetherell, c. 1975.David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.
====K6====
Registry which held agents personal 'Y' files.David Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242. According to Wright, it was responsible for "all security assessments and compiling the specialist records, ministerial briefings, special indexes, and record collection which previously had been under my control in D3."Peter Wright, Spycatcher, Viking, 1987, p.334.
*Duncun Waugh, section head, c.1981-83.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
*Ray WhitbyDavid Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.
*Robert HoldenDavid Leigh, The Wilson Plot, Mandarin, 1989, p.242.
*K6/7 Officer involved in Bettany case, 1983.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.716.
====K8====
Section responsibilities included monitoring Chinese intelligence operations.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.788.
*Bill Patten, section head, c.1981-83.Stephen Dorril, The Silent Conspiracy: Inside the Intelligence Services in the 1990s, Mandarin, 1994, p.486.
====K10====
*K10B - Counter-proliferation unit set up in 1991.Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.788.
===Other K Branch officers===
*Charles Elwell
*Barry Russell-Jones
*Michael McCaul
*Hal Doyne-Ditmass
*Martin Fleay
*Eliza Manningham-Buller
*Miranda Ingram
*John DayGREAT BRITAIN: MI5 Indirectly Supports Overview, Intelligence Newsletter, 15 April 1993.
==Notes==
Category:SpooksCategory:MI5