World in Action

Defending the Realm (27x38)

: 15, 1991

Nick Davies investigates phone tapping in the British security services. Aided by the whistle-blowing of a secret civil servant, Robin Robison, this programme disclosed systematic illegal activity by the UK's eavesdropping agency, GCHQ, and its US partner, the NSA. This included a new wave of commercial espionage as well as the targeting of trade unionists, peace activists and even the Pope.