蜜芽传媒

Tiffany Jenkins traces the development of the 鈥渟tate secret鈥�.

In the 20th century, secrecy became known as the British disease. We even kept secret the fact we were keeping secrets.

Tiffany looks at the growth of the Official Secrets Act which sought to control access to information which the state judged to need withholding.

She also visits the National Archives as new MI5 files are disclosed for the first time as Tiffany finds out why a certain amount of state secrecy is essential.

Series exploring the idea of secret knowledge.

Secrets have never been more suspect. Post Snowden, post Savile, institutions which keep secrets are automatically seen as having something to hide, and openness and transparency are seen as the new imperatives. Any deviation from the new orthodoxy of honesty is punished - by exposure.

But the story of secrecy is not as black and white as our contemporary prejudices would have it. For centuries secrecy has been seen to serve a useful purpose. It has protected citizens from the prying eyes of governments, it has protected the feelings of individuals and kept couples together.

It has safeguarded professional integrity, and protected the vulnerable from abuse. Have we lost more than we have gained by abandoning our respect for the power and sanctity of secrecy?

Producer: Kate Bissell

First broadcast on 蜜芽传媒 Radio 4 in December 2016.

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