Direction
The Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) receives direction from the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Permanent Under Secretary (PUS) on MOD's Intelligence needs and draws national guidance from the Cabinet Office Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC).
Collection and sources of intelligence
Analysis and assessment of intelligence involves interpretation and experience. Defence Intelligence personnel receive a large amount of information from a wide range of sources, as described previously. Sources include:
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Human Intelligence
Intelligence that can be gained from human sources such as informants
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Imagery Intelligence
This ranges from hand-held photography to overhead imagery from satellites or aircraft
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Signals Intelligence
This is the interception and exploitation of communications, both data and voice
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Open Source
Information in the public domain, such as the media and the internet
Analysis and production
Intelligence assessments are written to meet the needs of customers and must be timely and relevant.
The assessment process involves judging the authenticity and reliability of new information and its relevance to existing intelligence. Assessments focus on probable and possible outcomes, to provide the best available advice for developing a response or resolution. They are continually adjusted in light of new intelligence or events.