CNC welcomes government response to consultation on expansion

The government has published its response to the consultation on Civil Nuclear Constabulary service expansion beyond the civil nuclear sector, enabling the organisation to become more agile in helping other police forces to protect the public.

The majority of respondents were supportive of the proposals, backing the potential to enhance CNC officer capability and better integration with Home Office policing, as well as increased learning and best practice
sharing.

Respondents noted a number of considerations and operational changes required in order to deliver these benefits. These included safeguards that additional services would not adversely impact security of civil nuclear sites.  

A number of responses opposed the proposals, raising concern that expanding CNC’s role risked diluting their focus, or reducing public accountability. Some respondents suggested that critical national infrastructure sites could be more effectively protected by territorial police forces or Police Scotland.  Respondents also raised concerns about other issues, notably: training and capability of CNC Staff, impact on delivery of core nuclear security mission, and judicial or independent oversight of CNC activities if conducted away from licensed sites.

Some respondents also highlighted that the CNC, as a specialist force trained in armed response, could be considered over-qualified to perform more general functions in the public domain. These responses suggested that CNC should only be deployed in the case of a national emergency, and not deployed for less critical policing functions.

Vic Emery, chairman of the Civil Nuclear Police Authority, said: “We welcome the government’s positive response to the consultation on CNC service expansion. We are pleased that the vast majority of inputs made to the consultation were supportive of the organisation’s ambitions.

“Whilst the CNC’s core mission will always remain the protection of civil nuclear sites and nuclear material, the proposals outlined in the consultation would also enable us to improve efficiency and greatly enhance the support we can provide to our partners and to other police forces, ensuring that the wider police service is working together to maximise public safety. We look forward to working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to take these proposals forward.”