Publishers foil theft of MI5 chief's book Richard Norton-Taylor Wednesday September 5, 2001 The Guardian The publishers of the forthcoming memoirs of Stella Rimington, former head of MI5, have foiled an attempt to steal a copy of the book. People posing as representatives of Random House publishers tried to procure a copy of the book from the printers. When the printers called Random House to check the veracity of what they had been told, the individuals fled. Extracts of Dame Stella's memoirs, Open Secret, will appear exclusively in the Guardian next week. The publication is fiercely opposed by the secret intelligence service, MI6, and by the Ministry of Defence. This year, a draft manuscript of the book was leaked to the Sun. It was sent to the newspaper in a taxi by a Whitehall official believed to be acting for special forces officers. The leak was seen as an attempt to undermine Dame Stella's reputation. SAS officers were among those who saw an early draft of the book for vetting purposes. They have attacked her for writing her memoirs, claiming it will sabotage their attempts to prevent more former special forces soldiers from going into print. Special branch police officers are investigating the leak. A call to the Random House printers, from someone calling himself Mark Anderson, was made from a public telephone box close to MI6 headquarters in central London. A Sunday Times journalist, apparently confident of obtaining a copy of the book, telephoned the office of Sir Stephen Lander, the head of MI5, saying the newspaper was getting a copy of the book and asked him to comment on it. The journalist later called back saying he had failed to get a copy. Lawyers for Random House have warned the Sunday Times about the consequences of breach of copyright. They referred to the attempt last Friday to steal a copy of Dame Stella's memoirs from Random House's printers. A Sunday Times spokesman said last night: "None of our staff has had access to an early copy of Stella Rimington's book". He declined to comment as to whether they had tried to procure a copy. Full article at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,546985,00.html Michael Keaney Mercuria Business School Martinlaaksontie 36 01620 Vantaa Finland [EMAIL PROTECTED]
