The Increment

Rumours of a cadre of UKSF operators, known as 'the Increment', operating on behalf on the General Support Branch of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), have been circulating for years now. The missions tasked to the Increment are so-called 'black ops' - deniable missions that would be disavowed by the British government if compromised. These can include:

• secret military assistance to foreign powers
• clandestine insertion and extraction of intelligence agents
• covert reconnaissance / intelligence gathering

Naturally enough, no official confirmation of the existence or operations of such a unit has ever been forthcoming.

The most reliable report in the media so far that such a MI6-UKSF cadre exists was in a January 2012 BBC report on MI6/UKSF operations in Libya that makes mention of an 'E Squadron', noting that the unit was "formed five years ago to work closely with the intelligence service, MI6, and is mainly involved in missions where maximum discretion is required". The BBC report goes on to say that E Squadron is "the modern-day successor to the shadowy cell sometimes referred to as the Increment."

It is believed that the Increment ranks feature SAS and SBS operatives who have been specially trained and selected to work with MI6. It has been reported that every SIS station chief has a direct line to the SAS Duke of York's Barracks in London and that close ties exist between the two units. The Secretive unit is also manned by operatives from the Joint Support Group, the SRR and the Intelligence Corps.

It is thought that the SAS Anti-Terrorist team often provide the men for Increment operations. Men from M Squadron, the SBS Maritime Counter Terrorism (MCT) unit also provide manpower. When working for SIS, the SBS is rumoured to have used its skill at operating underwater to place trackers on vessels docked in foreign ports. It's also believed they use SDVs to ferry SIS agents to and from foreign shores.

When air support is required, 7 and 47 Squadron RAF (or other elements of the JSFAW) can be called on. Such support might include covert infill/exfil of SIS agents or assets from foreign countries, as well as directly supporting Increment operations.

Those seconded for the Increment are usually the more experienced ranks and all are vetted by SIS. Their backgrounds, friends and families are all thoroughly examined for potential security risks. Increment operatives receive specialised training.

Some sources state that the Increment work alongside another shadowing group known as UKN, a highly specialised surveillance unit, also run by SIS. UKN appear to specialise in surveillance in foreign countries and it has been speculated that they act as the increment's eyes and ears, identifying and tracking targets for operations.

There are somewhat wild and unsubstantiated rumours that The Increment / UKN have been involved in several high profile events such as:

• the death of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed
• the death of Dr David Kelly
• the planned assassinations of foreign leaders such as Libya's Colonel Gaddafi and Serbia's Milosovich

sources:
Asia Times
UK Intelligence and Security Report

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