MI5, as The Security Service, handles the most complex issues that relate to national security. It has to see off threats to the Prime Minister’s life, as well as secure installations, and deal with a rising tide of ‘random’ threats that come from nowhere.
The diversification of threat management and handling is tricky to follow in the UK’s security and Intelligence landscape. It also involves Policing, and this structure – subject to constant review – is also a feat in understanding insofar as how matters are processed.
One of the main factors in the effort of MI5 staff as I’m told is a difficulty curve that sets in as work ensues on a brand new problem. It starts with basic analysis but grows into a challenge as more focus is needed to break apart and solve a tough threat to a satisfactory level.
The result, or outcome, is something much more intelligible to us. It can be a simple alert stipulating advice to a key stakeholder. The outward simplification at the end of the process protects the staff who’ve cracked the issue, leaving them to continue in the job to ensure that the UK is never left alone.