UK Intelligence: Accountable or Not?
UK Intelligence: Accountable or Not?

Summary/Abstract: Conventionally, the UK intelligence statutory framework has been covered in secrecy which has led, throughout the years, to questions regarding the way in which these intelligence agencies are conducting their work. However, the revelations of Edward Snowden about the way in which the UK intelligence agencies choose to bypass the law when it comes to national security has reopened the debate concerning the insufficient level of accountability of these agencies. The fact that there is this debate only shows that Britain’s security governance is undergoing a fundamental transformation from the necessity to renew trust and confidence in Britain’s democratic institutions and to ensure there is sufficient oversight and scrutiny of governmental agencies decision. The purpose of this paper is to highlight why there is an ambiguity when it comes to intelligence agencies. This will be done by analyzing the emergence of the legislation governing the three British intelligence agencies which will offer suggestion for future reform when it comes to how these agencies can be hold to account.

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