Identity of WWII agents revealed

MI5 has released a file relating to a secret wartime camp

MI5 has released new files to the National Archives which allow several double agents during World War II to be identified.

The documents relate to a secret wartime interrogation centre where Nazi spies were questioned at Ham in Surrey, known as Camp 020.

Many of them became double agents working for Britain.

The newly released files can be cross-referenced against known agents to reveal their true identities.

The information has come to light following the release of a schedule of all the arrivals and departures at Camp 020, complete with real names.

The now-public document can be used by researchers to be cross-referenced with the files of secret agents.

Doing so results in the identification of individuals who were acting as spies for Britain.

Unusual revelation

So far five agents have been identified through the work done by researcher David List.

He said the work to uncover the names was "not rocket science, it's just basic, hard graft, due diligence".

For legal reasons, individuals are not being identified by the BBC.

Intelligence services expert Stephen Dorril said such revelations were not usually forthcoming from the UK's security services.

Mr Dorril said: "It is really surprising that here is a file that can be used to identify agents.

"It is one of the no-nos of the intelligence world that you don't identify agents.

"MI6, in particular, makes great play of the fact in its publicity that it never identifies agents and their identity will remain secret for all time."

But Mr Dorril added that it is difficult to keep the names of agents secret after so many years and when information is increasingly in the public domain.