MI6
Government & Politics abbreviation · UK Government
| Stands for | Secret Intelligence Service |
|---|---|
| Categories | Government & Politics |
MI6 stands for Secret Intelligence Service, a UK government abbreviation.
UK foreign intelligence agency, which collects human intelligence overseas and carries out covert operations to protect national security. It reports to the Foreign Secretary, and its headquarters stands at Vauxhall Cross beside the Thames.
Example: A former MI6 officer said the agency had warned of the threat for years.
Usage notes
Its official name is the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS); MI6 dates from its Second World War designation as Military Intelligence, Section 6. Founded in 1909 alongside MI5, it was not officially acknowledged until 1994 under the Intelligence Services Act. Its chief signs in green ink as "C", a tradition dating to founder Mansfield Smith-Cumming.
Related abbreviations
More UK government abbreviations
- Lab – Labour Party
- LD – Liberal Democrats
- MBE – Member of the Order of the British Empire
- MHCLG – Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- MHRA – Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
- MI5 – Security Service
- MoD – Ministry of Defence
- MoJ – Ministry of Justice
- MOT – MOT test
- MP – Member of Parliament
- MPC – Monetary Policy Committee
- MS – Member of the Senedd