Menwith Hill is the foremost American NSA intelligence gathering base. And it's near Harrogate, North Yorkshire. It intercepts all northern hemisphere communications in real time, analyses them, and forwards anything of interest to the NSA in Maryland for further analysis. It was commended in 1991 for its role in the Gulf War and so is used in offensive and war-fighting capacities. It doubtless has further "Echelon" uses collecting data on individuals and companies for American advantage.