Editing Force Research Unit (section)

{{short description|British Army covert intelligence unit}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2011}}

{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Force Research Unit
| image =
| caption =
| dates = 1980–2007
| country = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| allegiance =
| branch = {{army|UK}}
| type = [[Military intelligence|Military intelligence unit]]
| role = [[Agent handling]]<br>[[Black operation]]<br>[[Clandestine human intelligence]]<br>[[Clandestine operation]]<br>[[Counterterrorism]]<br>[[Covert operation]]<br>[[Espionage]]<br>[[Military intelligence]]<br>[[Special operations]]<br>[[Special reconnaissance]]<br>[[Surveillance]]
| size = 42 operators and 26 support staff
| command_structure = [[Intelligence Corps (United Kingdom)|Intelligence Corps]]
| garrison = Templer Barracks, [[Ashford, Kent]]
| garrison_label = 
| nickname =
| patron =
| motto = Fishers of Men
| colors =
| colors_label =
| march =
| mascot =
| equipment =
| equipment_label =
| battles = [[Operation Banner]] ([[The Troubles]])
| anniversaries = [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]]
| decorations =
| battle_honours =
| battle_honours_label =
| disbanded =
<!-- Commanders -->
| commander1 =
| commander1_label =
| commander2 =
| commander2_label =
| notable_commanders =
}}

The '''Force Research Unit''' ('''FRU''') was a covert [[military intelligence]] unit of the [[British Army]]'s [[Intelligence Corps (United Kingdom)|Intelligence Corps]]. It was established in 1980 during [[the Troubles]] to obtain intelligence from terrorist organisations in [[Northern Ireland]] by recruiting and running agents and informants.<ref name="Report2012">{{cite web|title=Volume 1 Chapter 3: Intelligence structures Report of the Patrick Finucane Review|url=http://www.patfinucanereview.org:80/report/volume01/chapter003/|website=Pat Finucane Review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216022903/http://www.patfinucanereview.org/report/volume01/chapter003/|archive-date=16 December 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> From 1987 to 1991, it was commanded by [[Gordon Kerr (British Army officer)|Gordon Kerr]].<ref name="stevenspeople" /> The FRU was renamed to the '''[[Joint Support Group]]''' '''(JSG)''' following the [[Stevens Inquiries]] into allegations of collusion between the security forces and Protestant paramilitary groups.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rayment|first1=Sean|title=Top secret army cell breaks terrorists|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1541542/Top-secret-army-cell-breaks-terrorists.html|access-date=1 July 2017|work=The Telegraph|date=4 February 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Sharp|first1=Aaron|title=Secret army unit credited with saving THOUSANDS of civilian lives facing chop|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/joint-support-group-secret-army-3221756|access-date=1 July 2017|work=Mirror|date=9 March 2014}}</ref>  The FRU was found to have [[Ulster loyalism#Collusion with the security forces|colluded]] with loyalist paramilitaries by the Stevens Inquiries.<ref name="stevenspeople">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2956161.stm |title=Stevens Inquiry: Key people |work=BBC News |date=17 April 2003 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref> This has been confirmed by some former members of the unit.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mackay|first1=Neil|title=My unit conspired in the murder of civilians in Ireland|url=https://www.serve.com/pfc/fru/fru12022k1a.html|work=Sunday Herald|date=19 November 2000|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010827122005/https://www.serve.com/pfc/fru/fru12022k1a.html|archive-date=27 August 2001}}</ref>