UK: MI5 and its staff will not face contempt of court proceedings despite the British intelligence agency admitting it provided false evidence
UK: MI5 and its staff will not face contempt of court proceedings despite the British intelligence agency admitting it provided false evidence to three courts, senior judges have ruled.
The judges decided that contempt proceedings would be too complex and not in the public interest. However, individual MI5 officers could still face a police investigation for misconduct in public office.
The case concerns false evidence given by MI5 about its dealings with the BBC over an informant known as Agent X, who was accused of domestic abuse.
MI5 chief Sir Ken McCallum welcomed the ruling, while acknowledging the agency’s serious failings and repeating his apology.
