Nuclear weapons crime in the UK has been reported to Thames Valley Police.
FEARS have been raised over the safety of the nation’s nuclear arms cache after seven police officers attached to AWE Burghfield resigned amid reports of widespread security lapses.
Campaigners fear the Trident missile factory could be vulnerable to terrorist attacks following allegations that Ministry of Defence officers were skipping routine security patrols, with up to 50 allegedly being probed for failing to fulfil basic checks.
Most officers patrolling the site, which is often at the centre of high profile protests and fence invasions by anti-nuclear protesters, are armed with Heckler & Koch submachine guns.
The Reading-based Nuclear Information Service is now calling for a full review into the failings. Its director, Peter Burt, said: “The AWE Burghfield site handles radioactive materials, explosives, and hazardous chemicals and the Government never misses an opportunity to tell us how sites like this are at constant risk from terrorist attack.
“The sheer scale of the problems suggests that the issues here go beyond misconduct by individual officers and are underpinned by more systematic flaws with supervisory standards, security culture, and attitudes to police work. At a highly sensitive location like this, it is important that security standards remain at the highest level.”
The 225-acre Atomic Weapons Establishment in Burghfield is used to build and maintain Trident nuclear warheads. It is understood the seven officers opted to resign without facing disciplinary action, and that several others have been redeployed while MoD bosses investigate their conduct.
An MoD spokesman said: “We can confirm a number of officers are under investigation for failing to complete their full patrols at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.
“The investigation is ongoing and the Independent Police Complaints Commission has been notified. It would be inappropriate to comment further while the case is ongoing, however we can be clear that at no point was the security of the site or its nuclear assets compromised.”
Source: Reading Chronicle
