![]() Think Sherlock Homes, or famed FBI agent Melvin Purvis who hunted down gangsters in the 1930s. What is the difference between a detective and a spy?Ī detective or investigator works in the field of law enforcement, looking for clues and evidence (usually quite openly) as part of solving a crime. Outside the intelligence world, the term “double agent” is often used much more broadly to refer to someone who pretends to work for one side while secretly working for another, but whose loyalties remain unchanged. True double agents are rare… because their survival is rare. After his release, he continued to work for MI6 as he passed secrets to the KGB (including British and American plans for the Berlin Tunnel). But when communist North Korea captured him in 1950, he decided he was fighting on the wrong side. George Blake, for example, joined Britain’s MI6 in 1944. In the intelligence world, a true double agent is loyal to one side before being “turned” and transferring loyalties to the other side. What is a Double Agent?Ī double agent is essentially someone who works for two sides. (You’ll find agents in other parts of government as well, but that’s a different use of the term: FBI agents and special agents, for example, work in law enforcement. They trust their handler (a professional intelligence officer) to protect them. They may be recruited through money, ideology, coercion, greed, or for another reason, such as love (human beings are complicated). What is an Agent?Īn agent is another word for a spy: someone who volunteers or is recruited to pass secrets to an intelligence agency, sometimes taking risks to spy on their own country. Of course, the term “spy” also is used much more broadly, often to refer to anyone or anything connected to “spy agencies” (from intelligence analysts to hidden cameras), or any activity done secretly (spy missions, use of malicious computer software). For this reason, a government minister might make a great spy-but so might the janitor or a cafeteria worker in a government ministry.ĭiscover some fascinating spies in our Spies & Spymasters exhibit, such as Morten Storm, who volunteered to spy against Al Qaeda celebrated dancer Mata Hari, who spied for the French during WWI and Mosab Hassan Yousef, a spy for Israeli intelligence. From an intelligence perspective, their most important quality is having access to valuable information. Instead, a spy either volunteers or is recruited to help steal information, motivated by ideology, patriotism, money, or by a host of other reasons, from blackmail to love. Also called an agent or asset, a spy is not a professional intelligence officer, and doesn’t usually receive formal training (though may be taught basic tradecraft). To get news as it happens, do join my mailing list: e-mail me on and I will add you.In the intelligence world, a spy is strictly defined as someone used to steal secrets for an intelligence organization. Secret Writing Celebrate a secret world of spies, moles, agents provocateurs and traitors, in the words of some of English literature’s more renowned authors Espionage Blog ItemsĮxports and Extinguishers Reflections on how a former MI6 HQ provided Ian Fleming with inspiration Secrets and Spies An exploration of the shadowy world of the Intelligence Community Espionage and Intelligenceĭangerous Secrets A selection of tales of treason, sedition and other covert activities Above all, we get past the surface to find the real heroes and villains – and the real victims of this dangerous trade. But also we consider the agencies that constitute aspects of British intelligence. Certainly there are stories of secret agents, spies and moles. Instead they expose for you the hidden currents that have helped shape modern history. ![]() These tours dealing with espionage and intelligence are not handfuls of unconnected spy stories. Rather they’re the unobtrusive shadows at the heart of the biggest moments of our times. Meanwhile real secret agents are far from the stars of romantic narratives. Would you risk everything for what you believe is right? Could you betray your country and your friends for cash? The covert world of espionage and intelligence has helped shape our modern world. They tell of bravery and treachery, and they show humanity at its best and worst. Tales of espionage and intelligence reveal the extremes of human nature.
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