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![]() Sunday, September 12, 1999 Published at 18:36 GMT 19:36 UK ![]() ![]() UK ![]() Soviet spy inquiry ![]() John Symonds: Former policeman who worked for the KGB ![]() An MI5 investigation has been launched into the cases of two British citizens who have been named as former Soviet spies.
The inquiries are potentially embarrassing for the security service and the government, because both cases raise questions about how long intelligence officers have known about the pair's activities. It has also emerged that Symonds was not unknown to the authorities. Code-named Scot by his KGB paymasters, the former Detective Sergeant was allegedly recruited after fleeing Britain in 1969 under suspicion of corruption.
He returned to Britain in 1980, gave himself up and served a two-year sentence on corruption charges. He now lives abroad again. But in 1985 he gave a newspaper interview admitting his treachery, and alleging that the intelligence service had shown no interest in talking to him. 'More revelations to come' Mr Symonds was revealed as a spy in the same documents which exposed great-grandmother Melita Norwood as one of the USSR's top Cold War agents.
The documents, which were handed over to the British authorities in 1992, are expected to lead to many more revelations in the coming weeks. But those made so far have raised questions about why the authorities have taken no action over the past seven years. Tom King, former Conservative defence secretary, and now chairman of the parliamentary security and intelligence committee, is to launch an investigation into the matter. He suggested that no action may have been taken because there had been much more information in the files to investigate. Report ordered from MI5
Conservative MP Michael Howard, who was home secretary from 1993 to 1997, said he had been unaware of Mrs Norwood's existence. The revelations came to light when a BBC team was researching the forthcoming documentary The Spying Game. Mr Symonds told the BBC about his role as a "Romeo" agent : "I was taught how to be a better lover. "Perhaps I wasn't a very good one before, and needed that instruction. But it was very pleasant. "I was taught by two extremely beautiful girls. That was quite an interesting part."
The Spying Game will be broadcast on BBC Two at 2000 BST on Sunday 19 September. It will include an exclusive interview with KGB defector, Vasili Mitrokhin. ![]() |
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