Nuclear Transport Solutions proposes cutting armed police escorts

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 7 Oct, 06:09 · Archive

Nuclear Transport Solutions wants to reduce armed Civil Nuclear Constabulary escorts for some radioactive material movements.

Nuclear Transport Solutions has proposed removing mandatory armed Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) escorts for movements of radioactive material where they do not provide proportionate security benefit. The proposal was made in response to the Government's Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce Review, which called for an end to regulatory obstacles the Government believes are impeding the nuclear industry.

NTS wants risk-based security requirements for certain nuclear material movements instead of mandatory armed escorts. The company says the change could reduce costs and complexity while maintaining safety and security. NTS estimates cost savings of 10 to 20 per cent if security controls were optimised rather than removed, and time savings of four to eight weeks from the planning process.

Rail movements of hazardous waste occur regularly to and from Sellafield site near Seascale. Reprocessed waste is also returned to overseas customers by sea from Barrow Docks after being transported there from Sellafield by train. The CNC currently provides armed escorts for these movements and also guards the gates of Sellafield.

Proposals for reducing unnecessary armed escorts were included in a collective Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Group response to the Government review. However, concerns have been expressed about the possible effect of reducing armed protection during transport. Matt Okuhara, who served with the CNC from 2006 to 2012, criticised the proposal, saying 'I think it's a bad idea, it really is'.

How it is being reported

• Nuclear transport plans to reduce armed escorts spark security concernsPlans to reduce armed Civil Nuclear Constabulary police escorts for some movements of radioactive material have raise security concerns.Whitehaven News · 7 Oct, 05:00
• Nuclear transport plans to reduce armed escorts spark security concernsPlans to reduce armed Civil Nuclear Constabulary police escorts for some movements of radioactive material have raise security concerns.News & Star · 7 Oct, 05:00
• Nuclear transport plans to reduce armed escorts spark security concernsPlans to reduce armed Civil Nuclear Constabulary police escorts for some movements of radioactive material have raise security concerns.Westmorland Gazette · 7 Oct, 05:00
• Nuclear transport plans to reduce armed escorts spark security concernsPlans to reduce armed Civil Nuclear Constabulary police escorts for some movements of radioactive material have raise security concerns.NW Evening Mail · 7 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Nuclear Transport Solutions · Civil Nuclear Constabulary · Sellafield · Matt Okuhara · Nuclear Decommissioning Authority · Barrow Docks

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