Emergency services train for attack on nuclear shipment

Emergency services have taken part in a “high-pressure” training exercise to test their response to an attack on a nuclear shipment in the Highlands.

Held at NRS Dounreay near Thurso, the operation followed months of planning by the Civil Nuclear Constabulary’s (CNC) exercise and resilience team.

The scenario, designed to test multiple agencies, featured a lorry transporting a flask of nuclear material from Dounreay power station for onward transport from Georgemas Junction train station.

A deliberate car crash saw the lorry held up and attacked by armed offenders.

Back at the power station site, information about an insider passing on vital details led CNC officers to arrest a member of NRS staff in connection with the incident.

Once the threat was neutralised, local emergency services took over the scene.

Local emergency services took part in the exercise CNC

The CNC continued the exercise, running a post-incident management scenario to practice how officers would be supported in the aftermath of such an incident.

A workshop was held the following day to consider how the site would approach recovery.

Steve Warren, exercise and resilience manager, was responsible for working with NRS Dounreay to design and organise the event – which took place in September.

He said: “This was a scenario that had not been exercised or tested before, meaning we were asking a lot of everyone involved.

“We achieved the ‘adequate’ rating from ONR, and the exercise really pushed the boundaries.”

The exercise saw a lorry held up by a deliberate car crash CNC

CNC divisional commander chief superintendent Ian Davies said the exercise was designed to “test people in ways they had not been tested before”.

He added: “Officers from the CNC performed very well and I am proud of the way they worked with each other and their colleagues at partner agencies, to deliver our mission in a high-pressure scenario.

“I’d also like to recognise the hard work of those who designed and organised the event, which was a real achievement.

“I spoke to ONR and multiple other partners afterwards, and they all agreed it had been a very positive day with some excellent learning coming out of it.”

Chief Inspector Dave McIntosh, of Dounreay Operational Policing Unit, said: “Under really challenging circumstances, the officers came away with a win and that is phenomenal.

“It was a tough day and a big ask, but the contingency worked, and the nuclear material was protected.

“I’m very proud of them; they did a really, really good job.”