British Spy Agency Searches For Real-Life 'Q' 79
suraj.sun writes with this quote from the Associated Press:"Britain's domestic spy agency — MI5 — is hunting for its very own 'Q,' of sorts. MI6's sister organization, which carries out surveillance on terror suspects inside Britain and gives security advice to the government, is searching for someone to lead its scientific work. Projects could include everything from developing counterterrorism technology to tackling a biological or chemical attack. 'Looking for a chief scientific adviser to lead and coordinate the scientific work of the security service so that the service continues to be supported by excellent science and technology advice,' MI5's Web site ad reads. MI5 has long had a roster of scientific staff tasked with developing high-tech gadgets, but an official said the service now wants a high-profile figure to lead pioneering work in technology and science. The adviser's work will focus chiefly on creating sophisticated new tools to help security service officers carry out surveillance and analysis work, said a government security official, who requested anonymity to discuss the work of MI5."
His name was Peter Wright . . . (Score:5, Informative)
: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Wright [wikipedia.org] . He "was an English scientist and former MI5 counterintelligence officer." He stuck a weed up the British Government's ass by writing a book about his experiences: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spycatcher [wikipedia.org]. British Intelligence officers are supposed to keep their mouth shut in retirement. It's a very interesting read, especially when he describes how those hollow microwave bug thingies function.
Not James Bond but the other lot. (Score:3, Informative)
Station IX (Score:5, Informative)
If you go back to WW2, the UK had a research lab which produced many curious inventions worthy of "Q". It was part of the SOE and known as "Station IX". It was based in an old Mansion just South of Welwyn in Herts.
You can now buy a catalogue of their weird and wonderful creations - which included such things as:
Explosive Rats (designed to destroy boilers)
Motor Bikes which folded into a small case and could be dropped by parachute. ("Welbike")
Silenced Single shot guns ("Welrod")
Explosive Pens.
Land Mines disguised as faeces from a wide range of Animals. These had a double effect - not only could they knock out enemy vehicles, but they slowed progress and sapped morale by forcing the occupants of enemy vehicles to get out and probe carefully every last turd they came across.