MI5/MI6/Special Branch would have made him disappear in the good old days.

Not really how they worked. MI5 has never really been too keen on killing people, they much preferred turning them into an asset and double agent. That's generally been how they operated through subversion.

People like Assange and Wikileaks, are exactly the kind of people and organisations, that MI5 likes to infiltrate and turn. That way you have resolved the issue of Assange, and you then get everyone who then uses wikileaks.

Even during wartime, MI5 was more interested in using the leverage of execution and exposure, to turn German agents into assets, as it allowed them to see what whole spy rings were doing.

MI5 has always been good at the long game. You can bet that some of those Islamist websites and 'hate preachers' are MI-5 assets. That's what I would do, set up Islamist websites, and then just start tracking the people who log on, sign up and post.

You only kill people who have no value or can't get to. Everyone else, you corrupt and put back into play.

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
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Being very careful not to fool foul of the entrapment laws......Which would probably be hard to do and be regarded as legitimate.

I should imagine the real 'hard core' are well aware of these traps.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

MI5 have no power of arrest and as such, entrapment laws work very differently from those of the police, customs and special branch. Evidence obtain by MI5 is not used in a court of law. Also Agents don't engage much in field work, assets do, and of course proving someone is an MI5 asset is very difficult.

Think of it like this. MI5 sets up a Islamist website, through an asset (probably paid), that asset collects information which it passes back to MI5, they process information, spot targets share information, put targets under surveillance and then Special Branch go out and obtain enough evidence for a warrant, and conduct a raid if necessary.

The website remains intact, the asset in place and continues. MI5 and the asset probably don't even end up in court, as special branch have investigated information passed to them, found sufficient evidence to obtain a warrant and acted.

As for the Hardcore, probably groups evolve as they become aware. But that's why you have 'numerous' in. Of course those that you picked up, you also have the option of 'turning them', and putting them back out into the field as assets.

A lot of intelligence is 'proactive' rather than reactive. Certain criminals are allowed to 'function' because they become protected assets. You might allow people who are trafficking people into the UK, as pass if they pass on details of suspects and so on.

Edited by jamiemartin721 (14 Aug 2015 1.45pm)

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
[Link]

Still a c***.

And the UN have made themselves look like complete t***s too.

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Evading bail and hiding in an embassy isn't being detained. Walk out and we'll show you what detained is.

Optimistic as ever

I have read that the crime Assange is accused of is allegedly 'changing lanes without indicating'.

"That was fun and to round off the day, I am off to steal a charity collection box and then desecrate a place of worship.” - Smokey, The Selhurst Arms, 26/02/02