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Following a major security breach that exposed sensitive information about British spies, soldiers, and Afghan allies, the Ministry of Defence has announced the replacement of its chief civil servant. The breach, which occurred in February 2022, was described as one of the worst data breaches in the UK in decades, with the leak going undetected for months and later being subject to a super-injunction. This incident has led to a significant embarrassment for the defence and intelligence services.
The data breach happened when an official working at UK Special Forces headquarters mistakenly sent out a spreadsheet containing the personal details of nearly 19,000 individuals seeking refuge in the UK from the Taliban. Among those affected were more than 100 UK officials, including MI6 staff and special forces soldiers who had provided information related to Afghan applications. Permanent Secretary David Williams, who was at the helm of the department during the leak, will be stepping down this autumn, with the recruitment process for his successor already underway.
The Defence Secretary, John Healey, reportedly had a discussion with Mr. Williams prior to the breach being made public, indicating that it was the right time for a leadership change. It is standard practice for permanent secretaries to serve for around five years, and Mr. Williams took on the role in 2021. The government is now looking to attract external candidates for the position, seeking individuals with strong commercial backgrounds and experience in driving change within large organizations.
In response to the situation, an MoD spokesperson expressed appreciation for Mr. Williams’ leadership since 2021, noting the significant activity within the department during his tenure. Meanwhile, Labour MP and chairman of the defence select committee, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, acknowledged Mr. Williams’ years of public service but emphasized the need to investigate the breach further to understand how such a security lapse could occur and put at risk both British service personnel and their Afghan supporters
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