GETTY UN peacekeepers in South Sudan

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Staff at the New York-based institution issued a thinly-veiled attack on Britain over its "lack of respect" for security. Threats of punitive action against the UK came after it withdrew police officers from a mission in South Sudan during recent violence without first consulting the world body. Britain withdrew two police officers from South Sudan after heavy fighting involving tanks and helicopters raged in the capital Juba for several days earlier this month.

Germany and Sweden also withdrew police without the approval of UN staff and the organisation has barred all three countries from sending their police officers back to South Sudan once the violence dies down. Officials were perturbed that they were not given any advance warning about the officers' departure and an internal memo has threatened to strip the UK of its right to block UN security resolutions. The document warns that the UK's actions "raises the question of their merits to hold a permanent seat at the Security Council and mandating others on how to handle peace and security issues when they themselves are quick to abandon their post in challenging situations".

Politicians as you've never seen them before Mon, June 12, 2017 A cheeky young Boris Johnson and David Cameron as a teenager the world's politicians as you've never seen them before. Play slideshow IG/Getty 1 of 13 British politician Boris Johnson

A spokesman for the British UN mission said Britain temporarily removed its two unarmed police officers on July 13 "for the officers' safety" and had told the UN police adviser in advance. Experts have previously warned that Britain could lose its place as a permanent member of the Security Council if Scotland split from the union, reducing the size and economic clout of the rest of the UK.

GETTY David Cameron speaking at the UN

GETTY Britain is a permanent veto-wielding power - alongside the United States, France, China and Russia

GETTY Heavy fighting involving tanks and helicopters raged in the South Sudan capital Juba