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Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit

Asked by Ben Obese-JectyConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 7 September 2026UIN 22990

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to recommendation 56 of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, whether he established a single Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit within Defence Intelligence with a mandate to protect Defence from hostile intelligence services and that works closely with the UK Intelligence Community by November 2025.

Answered by Ministry of Defence

The Defence Counter Intelligence Unit, launched in December 2025 within Defence Intelligence and using existing resources, works closely with the UK Intelligence Community to protect Defence from hostile intelligence threats. It will continue to develop to meet the evolving threat landscape and is planned to be fully operational in 2027.

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