Spook who foiled terror plots

[Osem]

We don't often get much detail about the various terror plots we're told have been foiled so I found reading this very interesting.

As an MI5 agent "Tom Marcus" risked his life for more than eight years, secretly tracking Islamic extremists and IRA dissidents on the streets of Britain. But when he left MI5 - with a CV full of inexplicable holes - he found himself taking jobs in a call centre and burger bar.
Tom Marcus is still jittery three years after retiring as a spy, he tells the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme. Walking down the street, he sometimes sees suspicious behaviour where there is none - shady people lurking in doorways; unusual bulges in coats; nervous, furtive glances.
Tom - not his real name, it can't be used for security reasons - saw plenty during his eight years as an MI5 surveillance officer to make him suspicious.
On one occasion he helped thwart a plan to blow up two coaches full of schoolchildren returning from a trip to France.
Undercover as a homeless man, and positioned near a mosque, he had noticed that a young Muslim man he had been tracking - who had fought with militant Islamist group Boko Haram in Africa before returning to the UK - had entered the place of worship but not left it. He had also counted more women leaving the building than going in.
He decided that one of the "women" leaving must have been the male extremist disguised in a burka. He informed his superiors, and the man - found to have six home-made bombs in his car - was arrested. The bombs were all set to go off at the same time via a mobile phone found on the suspect, meaning Tom almost certainly saved lives that day.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37504999

By virtue of their secret work our spooks don't get any public recognition but I reckon this one and all those like him deserve out sincere gratitude. It's such a shame that just like those who serve in our armed forces, emergency services etc. they often suffer in terms of careers, relationships etc. after their period of service ends.

I agree, and the poor fella suffered/suffers from PTSD, but I had an issue with one part of his story.

In the end, the job caught up with Tom. He suffered nightmares about being attacked and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), returning to civilian life in 2013. He feels he's recovered now.

He also struggled to find another job. Because of the anonymity required by MI5, Tom, who joined the Army at the age of 16 before moving on to the security services, has a large gap in his CV.

All he has to say is that he was a Civil Servant, and he worked on things in the MOD or the Foreign Office, which because it involved classified information, he can't discuss - 5 would give him a cover story, and appropriate (non-MI5) references would be provided.

He says the cover story just unravels, but he has practice, as he was an undercover officer with a cover story...

When I left the RAF (and my job there was on the Dark Side), I just said I was in Telecomms, and my job was covered by the Official Secrets Act - most people accepted this.

[Osem]

I was wondering about that. Presumably that'd be standard procedure for anyone in his situation or they'd quite likely never work again. As we've seen with the large number of homeless ex-forces personnel, the system doesn't always back them up as fully as it should so I wonder if that, along with his mental health issues, might have been a factor in some way.

It'd be interesting to know how those, like this guy, with employment histories they can't discuss tend to get on in interview/application processes. A potential employer might feel they could be opening a can of worms and be reluctant to bother or take the chance.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by Hugh

When I left the RAF (and my job there was on the Dark Side), I just said I was in Telecomms, and my job was covered by the Official Secrets Act - most people accepted this.

Not sure putting 'Wikileaks' on your CV was the best move, chap.

[adzii_nufc]

It'd be interesting to know how those, like this guy, with employment histories they can't discuss tend to get on in

No MI5 agent but:

One of my roles in Security involved 'X' Nuclear Power station. Its pretty much mandatory in this field to provide a 5-10 year history. I needed further security checks above a standard disclosure to work on site and it took half a year to just do that. One was Seal Sands near Hartlepool and the other is the strict one with vetting procedures, Seal Sands had people fresh on the job assigned to it without clearance. Never understood what was different between stations.

Since then I just write Power station security and don't even bother with evidence. Just write a sworn letter with counter signatures. No employer has pulled me on it yet. Aside from the extended government checks, I merely signed a form saying I wouldn't disclose things I may see. Not that I'd ever know what half of it did.

I can see this blokes problem though. Seems he doesn't want anything related to it on his CV, doesn't hide his identity for nothing. As above could just write something and provide a sworn document if they ask for references.

Hell, I can't even provide references from the 2012 games. Paid under the table last minute and worked with VIPs. Hey Juan Mata remember me? Can you confirm to my new gaffer I was with you on these dates. Never happening.

Presumably MI5 will issue proxy recommendations from the civil service. So that than 'Mr Secret, MI5, Mind your own business division' it will be 'Joe Bloggs, Senior Management, Home Office' or something. MI5's whole thing is trickely, inventing identities and so forth.

[Hom3r]

I worked for a UK company that require MoD security clearance, and I had to sign the OSA, which I am still bound to.

These guys are nothing like the James Bond we see in films, in fact JB is a poor spy as they know he's coming.

[tweetiepooh]

We are "all" covered by the OSA as it is an act of parliament not a contract. You sign it to confirm you understand that you and the work you are doing are covered. Even if you don't sign it, if you leak "secrets" you can be prosecuted.

("all" means those covered not everyone who may read this thread but I don't know how to define "all".)

[Hom3r]

I dealt with classified material, and hardware.


Without the OSA and extensive background checks I would not have got the front door.