Cutting armed guards on some of Britain's nuclear waste shipments could increase the risk of a so-called dirty bomb being created, an expert has warned. Reports suggest the number of armed officers could be reduced under a proposal by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), which it says could save the Treasury millions.
Cost-saving measure under fire
Nuclear waste is transported across the UK by road, rail and sea, with the most potent material escorted by armed guards of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC). Matt Okuhara, who served with the CNC between 2006 and 2012, said he believes the cuts are a "bad idea".
Speaking to The i Paper, which broke the story, Mr Okuhara raised fears this could make it easier for someone to acquire a "dirty bomb". He said: "The reason you've got to guard this stuff in the first place is because of how dangerous it is. Anyone who gets hold of this material can use it for anything they want, they can use it for a dirty bomb, they can use it for a poisoning device. That's why you need to have a strong deterrence force around the material in transit."
Dirty bomb threat
A dirty bomb combines conventional explosives with radioactive material, capable of causing catastrophic damage. Under the proposed cost-saving measures, mandatory CNC escorts could be removed "where they do not provide a proportionate security benefit". Some escorts for nuclear waste are said to be deemed excessive.
Concerns the cuts could lead to a dirty bomb come amid growing fears of rising Russian sabotage and hybrid attacks across Europe. Rob Jordan, from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank, told The i: "Damaging a truck on a nuclear convoy, or even blocking the route of a convoy causing serious delay, could cause embarrassment to the Government rather than it causing any kind of significant risk. But we shouldn't underestimate Russia's desire to destabilise through embarrassment, through a sense of the British government's inability to do things properly."
Responses to the proposal
However, he said he does not believe the cuts will necessarily raise the risk level. A CNC spokesperson warned the "consequences of failing in this area are too great", adding: "The risk to our civil nuclear sector and to our wider critical national infrastructure is at the highest it has been for many years. We will match our protection to that threat."
An NDA spokesperson said: "Nuclear Transport Solutions uses a range of robust security measures when transporting materials by sea. This proposal would enable NTS to employ measures tailored to the specific circumstances of each shipment on a proportionate basis and in line with regulatory requirements. Any changes to transport arrangements would be carried out in collaboration with Government and regulators without compromising on safety or security."
A Government spokesperson said: "We are reversing a legacy of no new nuclear power being delivered, to unlock a golden age of nuclear, securing thousands of skilled jobs and billions in investment, while maintaining a high standard of safety."
