Operation Legacy was a British Colonial Office (later Foreign Office) program to destroy or hide files in order to prevent them being inherited by its soon-to-be independent colonies.[1][2] It ran from the 1950s until the 1970s, when the decolonisation of the British Empire was at its height.[3] All secret documents in the colonial administrations were vetted by MI5 or Special Branch operatives to ensure those that might embarrass the British government, or show racial or religious bias, were destroyed or sent to England.[4] Precise instructions were given for methods to be used for destruction, including burning and dumping at sea.[4] Some of the files detailed torture methods used against opponents of the colonial administrations, e.g. during the Mau Mau Uprising.[5]
Its weird to know something but then still be shocked at the evidence of knowing that thing.
Its weird to know something but then still be shocked at the evidence of knowing that thing.
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