We have described intelligence's processes and institutions, and the functional divisions between them. It is concerned with information (and forecasts), and not action; and has a predominant (though not exclusive) orientation towards overseas affairs. But even on these it is not government's only authority for information and forecasting. We noted in chapter 2 that some intelligence activities are conducted on the fringes of the formally-defined intelligence communities; and chapter 6 referred to non-intelligence sources. Intelligence thus sits alongside diplomatic reporting, economic advisers, networks of international statistics on trade, health and similar matters, and private government-to-government exchanges. Military forces get some information about the enemy from various kinds of battlefield observation and contact, under operational and not intelligence control. Internal security merges into law enforcement intelligence. Among these many activities some organizations are designated as ‘intelligence’ and some are not. The question to be considered here is how far it can be identified with distinctive activities and product.

Official statements

Official statements relate to intelligence's raison d'être. The British intelligence and security services are now based on statutes which refer to general purposes of ‘national security’, with particular reference to defence, foreign policy and internal security threats, national ‘economic well-being’ and support for the prevention or detection of serious crime.