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sete ys, Js _ \ Jj = Bin weetowsbea groencei es ceheete ie ee ef bebiess , CHAPTER XxI af Ce _ ADEQUACY OF CO-OFERATION 2 “hath mB a 273. No one cap understand the nature ‘of the co-operation between the Security Service and the police forces unless he realises: (1) The Security Service in this country is not established by Statute nor is it recognised by Common Law. “Even the Official Secrets Acts do not acknowledge its existence. The members of the Service are, in the eye of the law, ordinary citizens with no powers greater than anyone else. They have no special powers of arrest such as the police have. No special powers of search are given to them. They cannot enter premises without the consent of the householder, even though they mnay suspect a spy is there. If a spy is fleeing the country, they cannot ‘tap him on the shoulder and say he is not to go. They have, in short, no executive powers. They have managed very well without them. We would rather have it so, , than have anything i in the nature of a “ secret police”. Q The Security Service i in this country is comparatively small i ip numbers. In some other countries there is to be found a massive organisation with representatives dispersed throughout the land. Whereas in this ' country it is and remains a relatively small professional organisation charged with the task of countering espionage, subversion and sabotage. (3) Those absences (they afe not deficiencies})—-the absence of powers and the absence of numbers—are made up for by the close co-operation of the Security Service and the police forces. Ini particular, in London, with the * * Special Branch * * of the Meiropoiiian’ Police and in the country with the Chief Constables. If an arrest is to be made, it is done by the police. If a search warrant is sought, it is granted to a constable. The police alone are entrusted with executive power. 274,‘ I have had evidence which satisfies me that there is excellent co-operation between the Security Service and the police forces. For instance, I have been present at the final stage of a combined operation by which a Soviet intelligence officer was tracked on a journey across the country and his every movement was covered. And I have seen the close collaboration which goes on when a case of espionage is suspected. The Security Service makes all the initial investigations, relymg on its technical resources and specialised field force. But as scon as an arrest is possible, the police are called into consultation and from this point onwards both forces work as a team. This is absolutely essential at the crucial stage (e.g., when a secret document is handed over by a collaborator to a spy) and an asrest is imminent. Precision of timing is everything. The arrest is made by the police and thereafter the case for the prosecution is in their hands. Tike two organisations work in the closest co-operation until the trial is over, “During the hearing the Security Service tries to remain in the background. This is to keep their officers anonymous and their techniques secret. The recent notorious * spy Cases * cases show no lack of co-operation ; and should be 91