Department of Naval Security 1961-1973

The request was partially successful.

ROSSA MCPHILLIPS

Dear Ministry of Defence,

I would like to know about the Department of Naval Security, part of the Admiralty Naval Staff, which was set up by First Lord of the Admiralty Lord Carrington in 1961 following recommendations of the 1961 Romer Report . Please can you answer the following questions about the Department of Naval Security:

1. What can you tell me about Department of Naval Security history?

2. What were the Department of Naval Security's main responsibilities and duties? Was it an overarching authority on Naval security policy or does it have an investigative remit? If so, did it investigate Naval security breaches only or did it investigate anything to do with the Royal Navy, including criminal matters such as fraud? Did it investigate civilians accused of breaching Navy security?

3. Where was the Department of Naval Security located?

4. How many staff within the Department of Naval Security were Naval personnel and how many were serving civil servants or civilian employees? Do you know the same statistics for the department in 1972?

5. Would the Department of Naval Security approach the BBC direct if there was a suspected security leak of Navy secrets on a BBC TV show? Or would the Department of Naval Security normally pass such enquiries to the police or civilian agency?

6. Why was the Department of Naval Security renamed the Directorate of Naval Security (DNSy) in 1973 and brought under the Navy Department? Was this due to another parliamentary committee report, perhaps because of the Sub Lt David Bingham spy case?

7. Is there anywhere else you advise that I should go to regarding UNCLASSIFIED information on the Department of Naval Security e.g. books, journals, government publications?

Thank you in advance for your response.

Yours faithfully,

ROSSA MCPHILLIPS MBE

Navy Command Secretariat, Ministry of Defence

1 Attachment

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please find attached our response to your recent enquiry.

Regards

Navy Command Secretariat - FOI Section