Jonathan Evans (MI5 officer)
| Jonathan Evans | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Allegiance | United Kingdom  |
| Service | Security Service |
| Active | 1980– |
| Rank | Director General |
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| Born | 1958 |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Intelligence officer |
| Alma mater | University of Bristol |
Jonathan Evans (born 1958)[1] is the Director General of the British Security Service, the United Kingdom's domestic security and counter-intelligence service. He took over the role on the retirement of his predecessor Eliza Manningham-Buller (later, Lady Manningham-Buller, DCB) on 21 April 2007.[2]
[edit] Biography
Having graduated from Bristol University where he read classical studies,[3], [4] Evans joined the Security Service in 1980, and initially worked in counter espionage.[5]
In 1985 he moved to the protective security function, dealing with internal and personnel security, before switching to domestic counter-terrorism in the late 1980s.[5] For more than a decade he was involved with the effort to combat the domestic threat of groups such as the Provisional IRA during The Troubles.
In 1999, with the violence in Northern Ireland greatly reduced due to the Good Friday Agreement, Evans moved to G-Branch,[6] the section of MI5 which deals with international terrorism. There he became an expert on al-Qaeda[7] and other branches of Islamic terrorism. He rose to head the section in 2001 (only a few days before the September 11, 2001 attacks), a position which put him on the service's board of management. In 2005, he became Deputy Director-General before being promoted to head the organisation in 2007.
In November 2007 Evans talked publicly about the threat the UK faces from digital espionage.[8] He is an ex-officio Member of the Council of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies where he spoke on National Security in February 2008. He has a Certificate in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors.
In July 2010 the government revealed Evans received an annual salary of £159,999.[9]
In September 2010, Evans said that Anwar al-Awlaki was the West’s Public Enemy No 1.[10]
In January 2012, the Daily Mail newspaper alleged that Evans had been leading a "lobbying campaign" to allow the use of secret evidence in court, and give government ministers "sweeping powers" to withhold evidence they deem 'sensitive' from civil court hearings and inquests. [11]
[edit] References
- ^ EVANS Jonathan, World Who's Who (Europa Biographical Reference)
- ^ "MI5 deputy to take over as head". BBC News. 7 March 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6427993.stm. Retrieved 7 March 2007.
- ^ http://irisonline.org.uk/index.php/interviews/interview-archive/20-an-interview-with-mi5s-jonathan-evans
- ^ The Defence of the Realmby Christopher Andrew, Page 806, Published by Allen Lane, 2009, ISBN 978 0713998856
- ^ a b Gordon Corera (7 March 2007). "From the Cold War to al-Qaeda". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6428477.stm. Retrieved 7 March 2007.
- ^ Leppard, David (17 December 2006). "New MI5 boss is top expert on Al-Qaeda". The Sunday Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article756272.ece. Retrieved 7 March 2007.
- ^ Cobain, Ian (9 January 2007). "MI5 told MPs on eve of 7/7: no imminent terror threat". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/attackonlondon/story/0,,1985972,00.html. Retrieved 7 March 2007.
- ^ MI5 warns over China spy threat
- ^ "Quango chiefs' salaries revealed". BBC News. 2 July 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10482482.stm. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
- ^ Peter Johnston (17 September 2010). "Anwar al Awlaki: the new Osama bin Laden?". The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/8009819/Anwar-al-Awlaki-the-new-Osama-bin-Laden.html. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ^ David Rose (8 January 2012). "Secret justice: How Cameron and Clegg vowed to hand back our liberties but are instead planning illiberal changes to justice system". The Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2083768/Secret-justice-How-Cameron-Clegg-vowed-hand-liberties-instead-planning-illiberal-changes-justice-system.html#ixzz1iqnOBBOH. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
[edit] External links
| Government offices | ||
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| Preceded by Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller |
Director General of MI5 2007–present |
Incumbent |
