Hole-y security

[RenewableCandy]

Oh dear.

"A secret counter-terrorism review of Britain's nuclear power plants is under way after fears arose over safety at the giant Sellafield reprocessing site."

"Officials at HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, which is responsible for assessing the work of police forces across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, have begun an urgent assessment."

"Concerns about protecting the plant may have come to light during an exercise in which special forces posed as terrorists to test security, according to The Times newspaper."

"The Civil Nuclear Constabulary, which has a force of about 800 officers, most of whom are trained marksmen, is unusual because it answers to DECC and not the Home Office."

"The force's main role is protecting the country's nuclear estate from the threat of international terrorism and has recently upgraded the quality and type of weapons and ammunition used by staff."

[RenewableCandy]

OK so it turns out this is one of many dozens of security audits they're doing all the time at a Nuclear power station near you. Nothing to see here move along...
Meanwhile in t'House of Commons:

Charles Hendry: Security at UK civil nuclear sites is kept under continuous review to ensure its effectiveness and arrangements take account of international guidance and best practice. In assessing the level of threat to these sites from a malicious attack, the industry's regulator, the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS), gives full consideration to the available intelligence on the methods, capabilities and intentions of terrorist groups and potential adversaries therefore enabling appropriate physical protection and other security measures to be put into place. The Government do not comment on the detail of security matters at civil nuclear sites.

Who are the OCNS? Wot's their budget (is it even publicly available)? Do I pay their wages when I turn on the lights? Is it counted as part of the assessed cost (and indeed C-footprint) of Nuclear power? If not why not? Is there an OCWS guarding Biff's wind turbines?? I could go on...

[biffvernon]

"Concerns about protecting the plant may have come to light during an exercise in which special forces posed as terrorists to test security, according to The Times newspaper."

I'm trying to imagine the situation. Did the special forces put tea-towels on their heads and go up to the front gate saying "let us in, please" or did they try scrambling over the fence at night hoping not to get shot?

[RenewableCandy]

Oooh look. No need for Nuclear. Get yer MP to sign up to EDM 557.

That this House...believes that this is a wholly perverse way of making policy, whereby large infrastructure is built before an assessment of the long-term need for it has been made; and therefore calls on the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to suspend any decision to build new nuclear power stations and to commence immediately a parliamentary and public investigation into the need for new nuclear power stations and related matters including their cost, their effect on electricity prices and on fuel bills, and on whether they, or the alternatives to nuclear, are the best ways to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and to create jobs in the energy sector.