Staff shortages and security problems are hampering attempts to protect nuclear plants from terrorist attack, a new report for the British government reveals.
The Office for Civil Nuclear Security, a shadowy state agency charged since 2000 with protecting 31 nuclear sites across the UK, has published its first ever report. Put quietly up on the Department of Trade and Industry website yesterday, it discloses 鈥渄ifficulties鈥� with recruitment and several previously unknown 鈥渄eficiencies鈥� in security arrangements.
There was a flaw in the procedure for vetting staff at a new plutonium fuel manufacturing plant at Sellafield in Cumbria, which required 鈥渢emporary compensating arrangements鈥� to be made. Workers have to be checked to make sure that they will not be recruited by terrorists to steal plutonium, which can be made into a nuclear bomb.
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The security clearances for guards at nuclear power stations also had to be tightened up following a sabotage attempt two years ago. According to the report, a guard tried 鈥渢o compromise the station鈥檚 access control system鈥�. No further details are given.
Delayed inspections
The director of civil nuclear security, Michael Buckland-Smith, is concerned that his 35 staff and 拢1.6 million annual budget are inadequate, particularly since the terrorist attacks against the US on September 11th. 鈥淚 have lost two experienced inspectors over the past 18 months and faced considerable difficulty and delay recruiting replacements,鈥� he says.
鈥淯nfortunately, four of my most experienced staff are either retiring or leaving in the next twelve months, compounding the difficulties we anticipate finding suitably qualified replacements and filling new posts.鈥�
Buckland-Smith argues six extra posts are 鈥渆ssential if my office is to continue to regulate security in the civil nuclear industry comprehensively and effectively, given the heightened terrorist threat鈥�. A planned programme of nuclear site inspections, suspended after September 11th, will not start again until next month 鈥渁t the earliest鈥�.
Widespread contamination
More than 12,500 workers at nuclear plants have been vetted over the past year by Buckland-Smith鈥檚 staff. 鈥淧ublic concerns are often misconceived and exaggerated,鈥� he says. 鈥淣evertheless, a successful sabotage attack on a nuclear facility could cause widespread radioactive contamination and loss of life.鈥�
Frank Barnaby, a nuclear consultant who used to work at the Aldermaston atomic weapons plant in Berkshire, points out that insiders could damage vital cooling systems at waste stores or reactors. 鈥淭hat would be a disaster,鈥� he says.
The staff shortages 鈥渞eflects a disturbing disinterest in security matters by the government鈥�, according to David Lowry, an environmental consultant specialising in nuclear policy.
But this is denied by a government spokesman, who stresses that the Office for Civil Nuclear Security is doing a good job. 鈥淭here are some staffing issues that need to be addressed,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut we are confident that we will be able to recruit high quality staff.鈥�