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James Bond, Britain's most famous fictional secret agent, would be feeling rather shaken and stirred to learn he would be too tall to be a real modern day spy in the country's domestic spy agency.

New guidelines for MI5 -- the UK's domestic intelligence service -- stipulate that Britons applying to be field agents should be no taller than 5ft 11ins (1.8 m) so they don't stand out, Britain's Sunday Telegraph reported.

That would rule out all the actors to have starred as the suave, unflappable Bond who worked for MI5's sister foreign spy agency MI6 in the 007 movies. Bond stars Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan are all 6ft (1.83m) or taller, the paper said.

"You should be able to blend into the background. Applicants would ideally be no taller than 5ft 11ins for men and 5ft 8ins (1.73 m) for women," the application form reads.

Britain is recruiting 1,000 new spies over the next few years to MI5 to bring the service's numbers up to 3,000.

But there was some good news for Bond -- the paper said his employers, MI6, had not yet imposed a height restriction.

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europ ... .spy.reut/

What about the rights of all the vertically challenged ?

New Zealand police used to have a height restriction but even before political correctness was invented they had to have a policy change to avoid discriminating against short people.

I wonder if this issue will be raised on the basis of the rights of tall people.?

What about the rights of all the vertically challenged ?

New Zealand police used to have a height restriction but even before political correctness was invented they had to have a policy change to avoid discriminating against short people.

I wonder if this issue will be raised on the basis of the rights of tall people.?

ive heard the NZ is notorious for its Politcal Correctness?

I've just read about this, its truely odd

awwwww, I don't get to be a spy  :'(

 :P

Seems odd to me. Where do these silly stories come from? I'm wondering if there is any truth in it.  Do they actually advertise for spies these days?

Here's the MI5 site. I can't find any mention of height restrictions. http://www.mi5.gov.uk/job_vacancies/job_vacancies_1.htm

PS. As reported in the original article, James Bond worked for MI6 (SIS). http://www.bbc.co.uk/crime/fighters/mi6.shtml

[quote] awwwww, I don't get to be a spy

these days being 6'2 i have found i dont really stick out. People have been getting taller it seems. It really is kinda crappy that they have gone for that rule, i could see various lawsuits if its true

able to blend into the background. We are looking for average height, build, appearance etc. Applicants therefore would ideally be no taller than 1.80m (5'11") for men and 1.73m (5'8") for women.

from their site concerning the job of mobile surveilance officer.

People have been getting taller it seems. It really is kinda crappy that they have gone for that rule, i could see variouslawsuits if its true .....

from their site concerning the job of mobile surveilance officer.

Were you thinking of applying for that job then Craig?

i am not at liberty to discuss that:)

It really is kinda crappy that they have gone for that rule, i could see variouslawsuits if its true

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
It would be an interesting experiance trying to sue MI5.

Anyway, as they said in the artical, MI6 does not have a height restriction. And thats who James Bond worked for.

wonder how fast the person would suddenly dissapear:)

I doubt they'd disappear. But they wouldn't stand a chance. I doubt it would even make the courts actually.

lol good find

looks like i would not make a good spy, stick out like a sore thumb according to this

i believe they said they were yet to be implemented.