MI5 joins Instagram to bust martini-drinking stereotypes

British security service MI5 is joining Instagram in a bid to increase transparency and rid itself of "martini-drinking stereotypes".

The account, @mi5official, will host Q&As with serving intelligence officers and promote career opportunities.

Urging people to follow the service, MI5 boss Ken McCallum said: "You can insert your own joke about whether we will be following you."

Mr McCallum said "being more open" was key to MI5's approach to the 2020s.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he admitted joining the platform was "a routine step for most organisations, but more interesting when you're in the business of keeping secrets."

But he said the intelligence service was facing a dilemma: "On the one hand, our ability to serve the public and keep the country safe depends critically on operating covertly."