Law & order

Secret government order allowing MI5 law-breaking revealed

Previously secret instructions issued by ministers confirm MI5 agents are authorised to engage in law-breaking, human rights campaigners have claimed.

The intelligence watchdog has been told to keep under review guidance on use of agents "who participate in criminality" and in what cases it can be permitted.

The ministerial order was made public following a long-running legal battle.

Reprieve called for the guidance to be published, warning authorised crime was the "most intrusive power" possible.

Campaigners welcomed the publication of a ministerial "direction" to the Investigatory Powers Commissioner about the Security Service, commonly known as MI5, which they said followed a seven-month legal fight.

But they called for full disclosure of the rules governing the activities of MI5 agents, saying the public deserved to know about illegal activity being undertaken in the name of national security.