[Infowarrior] - British spy agency searches for real-life `Q'

[Richard Forno]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090418/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_quest_for_q

British spy agency searches for real-life `Q'
AP

LONDON – He was James Bond's go-to guy for inventions that included  
dagger-embedded shoes, radioactive lint and a deadly sofa that  
swallowed people. Now, 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.

Since the 2001 terror attacks in the United States and the suicide  
bombings in London in 2005, spy agencies around the world have raced  
to develop technological tools in the fight against terrorism.

Mobile phones equipped with sensors for detecting chemical, biological  
or radioactive agents are in the works. Others, such as supersensitive  
eavesdropping devices, will likely be rolled out for the 2012 Olympics  
in London.

The biggest fear, however, remains a chemical, biological or nuclear  
attack.

"Threat equals the capability of your enemy and their intention," said  
a British government official who spoke on condition of anonymity  
because of the sensitivity of his work. "What we've seen over the  
years is terror cells transferring both knowledge and technology. The  
intention is limitless."

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.

Recent court cases in Britain have detailed the heavy use by MI5 and  
police of audio and video bugs and e-mail intercepts to track  
conversations between suspects.

Security officials refuse to discuss what techniques MI5 uses, for  
fear of compromising their methods. But officers have been rumored to  
have other James Bond-style kits at their disposal, including  
chemicals which can be attached to a suspect and leave a trace  
wherever they go — similar to the radioactive lint supplied by Q to 007.

Although the fictional James Bond character of "Q" worked for MI6 and  
was best remembered for his gadgets, he was also known in the Ian  
Fleming novels as a quartermaster of the agency's scientific branch.

Candidates for the MI5 job need to be at least 18, British or  
naturalized citizens who have "world-class scientific expertise and  
credibility in relevant scientific and technology disciplines,  
outstanding influencing and communication skills, experience of  
building an effective network and of creating a high quality team."

There are no salary details posted for the job, which would be two to  
three days a week.

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Associated Press Writer David Stringer contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

MI5: http://mi5.gov.uk