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James David Prydeaux Bickford CB (born 28 July 1940), known professionally as David Bickford, is a British former intelligence officer and legal director of MI5 and MI6.[1]
Biography
editJames David Prydeaux Bickford was born on 28 July 1940 in Dorset. His mother was a racing driver and his father an intelligence officer for the RAF. Bickford was educated at Downside School and upon leaving studied at The College of Law in London. Once qualified, Bickford worked as a solicitor.[2]
Following this, he began his international law career as Legal Adviser for the Turks and Caicos Islands Government.[3] At the end of this contract, he worked as Assistant Legal Advisor to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.[3] In 1979, Bickford was posted on a three-year contract to Berlin as to as Legal Adviser to the British Military Government.[4] Following this posting, he became the Legal Adviser to the British Space Delegation and advised during the International Space Station Agreement.[2] For nine years, Bickford then worked as Legal Director of MI5 and MI6, by which he turned down an offer to become Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands.[1][2]
After retiring from this post, Bickford worked as a visiting professor at Cleveland State University, became an honorary member of the American Bar Association, and gave advice to UK select committees and the Committee of Privy Counsellors on intelligence agencies.[5][2]
Bickford married in 1965 and has three children.[2]
Honours
edit- In 1995, Bickford was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath.[6]
- Honorary member of the American Bar Association.[2]
Publications
editBooks
edit- Bickford, David (2004). The Face of Tomorrow. Pretzel Publishing. ISBN 978-0954699000.
- —— (2023). Katya: What Would You Risk for Half a Billion Dollars?. Coinkydink Limited. ISBN 978-1399948401.
- —— (2024). Katya: The Informer. Coinkydink Limited. ISBN 978-1739399399.
- —— (2025). Katya: Arctic Betrayal. Coinkydink Limited. ISBN 978-1739399306.
- —— (2026). Cold Protocol. Coinkydink Limited. ISBN 978-1739399313.
Papers
edit- Bickford, David (1998). The Accountability of the Security and Intelligence Agencies With Particular Regard to the Security Service. Select Committee on Home Affairs.
- —— (1999). State Secrecy or Transparency: Balanced Secrecy in the New Information Age (PDF). Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament.
- —— (2013). European Parliament Libe Enquiry: Judicial Scrutiny of Intelligence Agencies (PDF). European Parliament.
- —— (2014). Covert Surveillance: Intelligence Agencies: The Need for Judicial Authority for Covert Surveillance Intrusion (PDF). Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament.
References
edit- 1 2 Hooper, Dickon (9 June 2004). "The name's Bickford, David Bickford". BBC. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Career". David Bickford. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- 1 2 Jones, Callum (13 March 2024). "Former MI5 legal director details 'two qualities' you need for a successful intelligence service career". UNILAD. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- ↑ Rawlinson, Kevin (17 June 2023). "Intelligence service career informs former MI5 and MI6 man's novel". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- ↑ Norton-Taylor, Richard (3 March 1999). "Spy secrecy 'impedes crime fight'". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- ↑ "No. 54066". The London Gazette. 17 June 1995. p. 3.