"...spy chief 'Major Dalby' gives small-time grifter 'Corporal Harry Palmer' a way out of 'Colchester Military Prison' by offering him a job as an intelligence officer in his small but influential Whitehall security unit.
"The unit's investigation into a missing British nuclear scientist expands into a case of international espionage which is documented in the contents of the 'IPCRESS File'.
"'WOOC'(‘War Office Operational Communications') is a civilian department of the UK's intelligence community...
"...reporting directly to the 'Cabinet' and enjoys the fact that both 'MI5' and 'MI6' are envious of it..."