MI6 Secret Agent Talks About the World's Darkest Secrets
Added: Jul 5, 2024
David Bickford was born between two air raids during World War II. His father was abroad in Ceylon during the war, operating against the Japanese. After returning, David's father set up an airline to South America with a friend from the RAF. David's first trip to Brazil was at age six, and he spent summers visiting his parents there while attending boarding school in England. He describes his childhood as very free and exciting, with early exposure to different cultures and people around the world.
David attended boarding school from age 6 to 17. He speaks positively about the discipline and independence it instilled, including learning boxing in his first term. After leaving school at 17, David went straight into a law apprenticeship on the advice of his headmaster, rather than attending university. He spent 4.5 years starting at the bottom, licking stamps and handling difficult clients, which he says did him "an enormous amount of good."
Early Career
After his apprenticeship, David went into private practice for about 3 years before deciding he needed something more exciting. His wife showed him an advertisement for a legal advisor position with the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean. They decided to go for it, and David spent two years there drafting legislation to help develop the islands' tourism and finance industries.
He describes this as a fascinating experience and huge learning curve in drafting legislation and converting ministers' wishes into law. David also had interesting encounters there, including watching the moon landing at a US tracking station and dealing with Cuban fishing boats entering their waters. After two years, he was asked to join the Foreign Office as a lawyer.
Foreign Office and Intelligence Work
David's work at the Foreign Office involved extensive international travel and dealing with various aspects of international relations. He was the legal advisor for the British space program in its early days, working on agreements governing the International Space Station and Earth stations for satellite communications.
After his time at the Foreign Office, David was recruited to work as a lawyer for MI5 and MI6, Britain's domestic and foreign intelligence agencies. He spent about 9 years in this role during a time of significant change as the agencies transitioned from Cold War-era secrecy to being more open and legally accountable. David played a key role in helping develop the legal frameworks and processes for the agencies to operate effectively while adhering to human rights laws and being able to use intelligence as evidence in open court terrorism prosecutions.
Intelligence Work and Operations
David provides insights into the day-to-day work of the intelligence agencies, describing it as constantly varied and exciting. A typical day could involve advising on operations, drafting legislation, liaising with other government departments, and working on prosecutions. He emphasizes the agencies' focus on gathering intelligence legally and ethically, with a view to potentially using it as evidence in court.
He explains that operations are very carefully planned and precise, contrary to the James Bond image. The work involves extensive training, learning about people's mannerisms, and building trust to gather information over long periods. David expresses great admiration for the caliber of people in the agencies, describing them as incredibly talented, balanced, and able to handle stressful situations while maintaining integrity.
David discusses some of the challenges of intelligence work, including the difficulties of tracking suspects across borders with different legal systems. He advocates for greater international cooperation and harmonization of laws to more effectively combat transnational crime and terrorism. He also touches on the emotional toll when terrorist attacks succeed, describing the devastation felt within the agencies.
Views on Current Issues
David shares his perspectives on various current issues based on his experience:
Terrorism and Human Rights: He believes in respecting the human rights of terrorism suspects, including the right to life (unless self-defense is necessary), family life, free speech (within limits), and freedom from torture. He criticizes the US use of waterboarding as both unethical and ineffective.
Drug Trade: David discusses the ongoing challenges of the international drug trade, noting recent changes in cocaine production and distribution. He emphasizes the link between recreational drug use and funding violent organized crime.
Human Trafficking: He describes this as a huge and growing problem, encompassing prostitution, child trafficking, and organ harvesting. David notes how criminal organizations shift between different illicit activities as law enforcement pressure increases in one area.
Brexit: David was against leaving the EU, believing people were misled about the realities of being an independent nation-state in today's interconnected world. He sees Brexit as damaging to UK businesses and international influence.
Israel-Palestine Conflict: He acknowledges the complexity of the situation, recognizing Israel's right to self-defense while also emphasizing the rights of Palestinians. David stresses the need for proportionality in military responses.
Russia and Ukraine: David views Putin as dangerous and supports providing aid to Ukraine. However, he also advocates for maintaining dialogue with ordinary Russians where possible.
Artificial Intelligence: He sees AI as potentially very useful for intelligence work, particularly in processing large amounts of data and making it usable as court evidence.
Britain's Global Role
Despite concerns about funding and military size, David believes Britain remains a strong force globally. He cites the high regard for UK special forces and intelligence agencies internationally. David also notes Britain's diplomatic role as a balancing influence in international affairs, even after leaving the EU.
Personal Reflections
David expresses gratitude for his "incredibly lucky" life and fascinating career. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining balance and perspective, crediting his boarding school experience and his wife's influence. David shares his wife's philosophy: "Life is tough, why should you think it might not be? And if things are hard, go and scrub a floor, don't start wallowing in self-pity."
After leaving the intelligence world, David has found a new passion in writing spy novels inspired by his experiences. He has published three books so far, with a fourth on the way, featuring a female Russian intelligence agent as the protagonist.
Advice and Outlook
For people struggling in life, David advises: "Just keep going, look for the best that you can possibly see and go for it. And if you have to make a change, make it. Just make it, don't think too much about it."
He believes everyone has potential and the ability to achieve something, regardless of age or circumstances. David emphasizes the importance of taking action rather than feeling sorry for oneself, while also acknowledging that many people face genuine hardships.
Overall, David Bickford comes across as a thoughtful, balanced individual who has led an extraordinary life in service to his country. His interview provides valuable insights into the world of intelligence and international relations, while also offering wisdom on navigating life's challenges.
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