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The People Who Help Protect Us From Another 9/11

Jacqui Smith says we should be proud of our security and intelligence agencies – and think about joining them.

By Jacqui Smith

11 Sep 2011, 14:03

As we reflect on 10 years since the tragedy of 9/11, I have been thinking about the people I met as Home Secretary who work within our security and intelligence agencies.  In a ten year Ministerial career, I was lucky to meet an incredible range professionals working in the areas I had Ministerial responsibility for.  However, it was only as Home Secretary that I felt I was meeting people who I would otherwise never have had the opportunity to come across.  Or at least, I may not have realised I was meeting them.

The nature of the job for those within our security and intelligence agencies means that most people never get to see the day-to-day reality of their work.  This has led to two different, but potentially serious problems.  

Firstly, it is difficult for the services to explain how they work and to defend themselves against criticism.  As we saw over last weekend, screaming headlines about complicity with torture or rendition are easy to write and difficult to rebut.  The fact that there are no ‘speaking heads’ on our TV screens answering the allegations doesn’t mean that they are not being taken seriously.  The agencies have faced intense scrutiny from the courts and police investigation over torture allegations. As Home Secretary, I referred allegations to the Attorney General and police.  The Intelligence and Security Committee looked in detail at previous allegations about rendition.  And now the Gibson Inquiry into the treatment of the Guantanamo detainees will be extended to cover some of the issues behind last weekend’s headlines.   If allegations are upheld, there should obviously be consequences.  

But all these investigations will also have an impact on the ability of the services to do their job.  Time and resource spent trawling through past files is not being used to keep people safe.  Morale must be impacted by this activity.  This is not to argue against proper accountability, scrutiny or investigation, but simply to point out that it is not cost or consequence free even if charges aren’t substantiated.

It also contributes to the second problem.  I counted it an honour to meet people working in our security agencies.  They were brave and dedicated public servants  who work almost always without any personal recognition beyond their workmates.  In my experience, they strive to behave with the highest possible moral standards.  I’d be proud if one of my children wanted to enter any of the agencies.  However, recruitment remains a challenge.  It’s not easy for your average career’s advisor to explain what’s involved in this career choice.  Whilst applications and information are now online rather than dependent on a tap on the shoulder, there is still a limit to the ‘colour’ that can be provided about the day-to- day work.  

Listening to the impressive Eliza Manningham-Buller and Stella Rimington on my radio over the last week, I was again particularly disappointed to hear about the difficulties MI5 were having in recruiting women.  There are a variety of reasons for this.  Some have cited the ‘Spooks’ effect.

‘Spooks’ is not a recruitment film.  In real life, the spooks are generally less good looking – and incidentally the Home Secretary is less evil!  But positively, there isn’t just a team of five to foil weekly plots, there is good training and development, a variety of different skills are needed.  Like any modern workplace, people can combine the work with family life and even outside interests.

So if you’re looking around at career options and thinking about public service, please consider MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.  You won’t make a fortune, but you will have the opportunity to work with some truly impressive people and you will know that your efforts are making us all safer.
 
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