JBIC-MI6

http://www.pair.com/spook/security/mi6org/mi6org.htm has this to say about MI6:

The Intelligence Services Act of 1994 defines the role of MI6 as;

(a) to obtain and provide information relating to the actions or intentions of persons outside the British Islands; and (b) to perform other tasks relating to the actions or intentions of such persons. . . [in relation to] the interests of national security, with particular reference to defence and foreign policies. . .the interests of the economic well-being of the UK. . .or in support of the prevention or detection of serious crime.

James Bond works for MI6; however, Bond may be fiction - MI6 is not.

MI6

MI6, which stands for Military Intelligence 6, was created in 1911 in order to exercise espionage overseas. Similar to the CIA, its purpose is national security as well as manipulation of world events in relation to the United Kingdom. MI6 also concerns itself with threats from foreign countries and organizations. MI6 does more espionage and intelligence than investigative work. The investigative work in the UK is done by MI5, the equivalent of the United States' FBI.

The MI6 building at Vauxhall Cross
from over the river Based at 64 Vauxhall Cross on the South Bank of the Thames River in London, MI6 recruits agents in order to infiltrate foreign groups and governments it deems to be a threat to national security. The chief of MI6 is David Spedding whose term began in September of 1994. There are roughly 2,300 employees and has an annual budget of 150 million pounds.

MI6 has specialized in activities pertaining to the Soviet threat during the Cold War. Since the end of the Cold War, MI6 has aquired more targets, mainly with terrorists groups and states around the country. These targets are now higher profile than previous operations in Russia and because of this, MI6 has been forced to create new networks of agents within the new foreign organizations. Industrial espionage is now also something MI6 focuses on as well as intelligence gathering on friendly governments and obtaining knowledge on the negotiating positions of others.