I hate to say it, but good point woodyb.
However, I wouldnt say its as overpopulated a industry as you say - providing you have the right experience, being a couple of op tours, a few years in a good reg and some good op reports and specialist courses.
There are plenty of jobs with various multinational companies from outside the UK in the wider industry, and other theatres. You are right, pay is going right down and its fair to say the UK side of the industry is getting overpolulated by the mass military exodos toward the industry.
'The circuit', and the 500pd clan has packed up shop for most, however this is a new industry now, and still developing, will have to give it a couple of years to see how it goes.
If Blackwater get there way, then the private military side of things will take off, privatised armies will start to form.
OR
Maybe everything will grind down, troops will pull out and the industry will pack up. Never know, few years, guys mite be rejoining the mob.
2 points from this, firstly the relevent experience is pretty much essential if your UK based. In the US, swat guys and CPO's (armed and different stateside) can move over well to a hostile enviroments CP role.
secondly, its a very uncertain industry still, and know one knows which way its going to go next few years.
The SIA has confused people by saying being a CPO is a bit like the next level up from bouncer. Try that one out down Irish.
The bigger money lies in specialist support, IT infrustructure, VM's, combat medics, Int analysts, at the moment anyway.
But, if your dead keen on hostile PSD operator from civy, its been done.