It appears that about one-fifth of British intelligence officers have quit over the past 3 years.

It appears that, “many of the officers leaving were choosing well-paid private security jobs instead, forcing the ministry to hand jobs to people who do not have relevant training or experience.”

Well-paid private security jobs, i.e. Blackwater and the rest of their despicable ilk.

The US and the UK have declined to sign the 1989 UN Mercenary Convention, and this is just one, of many (will post on this later) problems with this position.