Editing Force Research Unit (section)

==Overview==
Although the exact size of the unit was classified, former FRU operator [[Martin Ingram]] revealed in an interview that it consisted of 42 agent handlers and 26 support staff in the late 1980s. According to Ingram, their locations and staffing levels were:<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 August 1999|url=https://archive.today/20250220182748/http://www.stakeknife.eu/StakeKnife_05.html|title=The British spy at heart of IRA|website=[[The Sunday Times]]|language=en}}</ref>

{{Table alignment}}
{| class="wikitable defaultcenter col1left"
! 
!North Det 
!South Det
!East Det 
!West Det 
!Head Quarters  
|-
!Location
|[[Ebrington Barracks]] ([[Derry]])   
|[[Bessbrook|Bessbrook Mill]] ([[South Armagh (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)|South Armagh]])
|[[Palace Barracks]] ([[Greater Belfast]])   
|[[RAF St Angelo]] ([[Enniskillen]])    
|[[Thiepval Barracks]] ([[Lisburn]])  
|-
!FRU Handlers
| 8 
| 8
| 14 
| 6
| 6
|-
!Support Staff
| 6
| 6
| 6
| 4
| 4
|}

The Force Research Unit worked alongside existing intelligence agencies including the [[RUC Special Branch|Special Branch]] of the [[Royal Ulster Constabulary]] and [[MI5]].<ref name="Report2012" /> In 1988, the All-Source Intelligence Cell was formed to improve the sharing of intelligence between the FRU, Special Branch and MI5.<ref name="Report2012" /> FRU operators were armed with cutting edge [[Heckler & Koch]] weapons normally reserved for elite [[Counterterrorism|counter terrorist]] units, such as the [[Heckler & Koch MP5#MP5K|MP5K]] compact [[submachine gun]] and the [[Heckler & Koch HK33|HK53]] carbine [[assault rifle]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://shows.acast.com/65804e231585de00125defe6/67a2366a9a67c6bc4ec40d01|title=Bed of Lies - Series 3 / Episode 5 - Handlers|website=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=20 February 2025 }}</ref> FRU operators worked closely on missions with elite units such as the [[Special Air Service]] and the [[14th Intelligence Company]], who were based out of a secure area of [[Aldergrove Flying Station]] at the time. They were also granted special privileges in the course of their work, such as the power to overrule senior officers in ordering an area to be cleared of regular security force patrols or by requesting immediate helicopter cover.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 August 1999|title=The British spy at heart of IRA|website=[[The Sunday Times]]|language=en}}</ref> The FRU likewise had the power to designate specific properties as "off limits" to RUC searches in order to protect agents or the intelligence documents the agents were in control of.<ref name="NelsonTrialTranscript"/> 

The British government has previously attempted to stop information about the FRU from becoming public, such as obtaining an [[injunction]] against The Sunday Times <ref>{{Cite news |date=28 November 1999|title=Gagging order protects army's dirty tricks unit|newspaper=[[The Sunday Times]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=18 May 2000|title=Secrets and spies|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/may/18/freedomofinformation.uk|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|language=en}}</ref> and arresting former FRU operatives who went public under suspicion of breaching the [[Official Secrets Act 1989|Official Secrets Act]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 May 2003|title=Minister gagged media to guard dirty secret|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/may/13/northernireland.northernireland1|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|language=en}}</ref> Unsuccessful attempts were also made by an unknown "British Intelligence Agency" to pressure the [[ISP]] of the US based [[Cryptome]] website into removing an article naming former FRU operatives.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cryptome.org/mi5-verio|title=British Intelligence Request to Remove Document |work=Cryptome }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cryptome.org/fru-walshaw.htm|title=Enquiry: The Killing Years in Ireland  |work=Cryptome }}</ref> In a 2000 interview with the [[Sunday Herald]], an unnamed FRU operator denied accusations that they were a rogue unit, asserting that there was an unbroken chain of command from the agents on the ground all the way up to the highest levels of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]-led government of the day (and ultimately [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Margaret Thatcher]]).<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 November 2000|url=https://cryptome.org/fru-herald.htm|title=My unit conspired in the murder of civilians in Ireland|newspaper=Sunday Herald|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:The Force Research Unit 1982.jpg|thumb|The Force Research Unit - photographed in early 1980's at a Sergeants' Mess evening. FRU operators allegedly visible in the picture include: Peter Charles Jones (front row, circled in purple), David Moyles (middle row, circled in purple), Gordon Kerr (circled in blue), Margaret Walshaw (circled in yellow), Phillip Campbell-Smith (circled in white). The men wearing plain black [[Tuxedos]] (instead of [[mess dress uniform]]) are believed to be members of the S.A.S / 14th Intel]]
[[File:The Force Research Unit 1989.jpg|thumb|members of Force Research Unit 'West Det' photographed in late 1980's. FRU operators allegedly visible in the picture include: Martin Ingram (left side, circled in white), Peter Charles Jones (circled in yellow), Phillip Campbell-Smith (right side, circled in white)]]