Watchdog’s review of case criticises handling of agent X, who exploited role with agency to threaten his girlfriend. MI5 has been reprimanded by a watchdog for lying about its relationship with a neo-Nazi informant, who had exploited his role with the spy agency to violently threaten his girlfriend. The Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (Ipco) criticised MI5’s handling of a man known only as agent X, and said some of its officers had initially misled the public about his true status. Although MI5 had confirmed to the BBC that agent X was an informant, during subsequent court proceedings the agency would only say in public that it could “neither confirm nor deny” its relationship with him, a standard form of “no comment” it uses. That had frustrated the efforts of “Beth”, agent X’s girlfriend, in bringing legal complaints against MI5 after he had attacked her with a machete and tried to rely on his status as an informant to discourage her from speaking out. “MI5’s management of agent X fell far below the standards the public, the courts and Ipco have every right to expect,” said Brian Leveson, the investigatory powers commissioner, as he published a review of the case on Thursday. “What makes this case particularly grave is that Ipco and the courts were misled,” said the watchdog, which reviews the use of covert powers by public bodies. “Failings of candour undermine the entire basis of oversight and accountability.”
via guardian: MI5 reprimanded for lying about ties with neo-Nazi informant who attacked girlfriend with machete
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