NUKEWATCH SCOTLAND
Press Release: 10th October 2016
CAMPAIGNERS QUESTION LOCAL POLICE PREPAREDNESS FOR NUCLEAR CONVOY INCIDENT
The citizen monitoring group Nukewatch, which observes and reports on the movement of nuclear weapons within the UK, has written to Scotland’s top police officer to express concern about the apparent unpreparedness of local police to respond to any incident involving the convoys. See letter text below.
The worry has arisen from recent conversations between campaigners and local police officers, as nuclear weapon convoys have been passing, which have indicated that the officers concerned are wholly unaware of the nature of the traffic and its attendant risks.
Nukewatch understands that local police are called to attend when convoy personnel notice protesters at the roadside or following the convoy in cars. Local traffic police can also be involved in traffic management as the convoys pass through.
In their letter to Chief Constable Philip Gormley the campaigners say:
“This is troubling on two counts. These officers could be attending an emergency situation involving a convoy and be completely unprepared, by their lack of specific knowledge and training, to take appropriate action. That is a question of critical competence. Secondly, they might be exposing themselves to particular and serious risks of which they had not been advised. That represents a serious failure of an employer’s duty of care to employees.”
David Mackenzie said:
“It is frankly astonishing that Police Scotland can be so complacent in the face of the serious and potentially catastrophic risks posed by the transport of nuclear warheads on public roads. It seems that they are content to let the MoD deal with any incident in spite of the fact that accident simulation exercises in the series Exercises Senator have repeatedly highlighted poor inter-agency co-ordination in acted-out scenarios. Under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004) so-called First Responders, such as the emergency and health services must carry out risk assessments of identified threats. It appears that Police Scotland are failing to comply with the Act.”
Contacts:
David Mackenzie 07876593016
Jane Tallents 07778267833
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The Chief Constable
Police Scotland
PO Box 21629
STIRLING FK7 1EN
PO Box 21629
STIRLING FK7 1EN
Dear Philip Gormley,
Police Scotland officers and nuclear weapon convoys
Nukewatch is a citizen monitoring group which observes and reports on the movement of nuclear weapons and weapon-related nuclear materials within the UK.
We have a particular concern to raise with you. During our observations of recent nuclear weapon convoys travelling to and from Coulport we have had roadside conversations with a number of Police Scotland officers who have attended as we watched the convoys pass or followed the convoys in our own vehicles. What appears to happen is that convoy personnel alert local police to our presence.
Our concern is that a number of these officers have been completely and genuinely unaware of the nature of the traffic. This is troubling on two counts. These officers could be attending an emergency situation involving a convoy and be completely unprepared, by their lack of specific knowledge and training, to take appropriate action. That is a question of critical competence. Secondly, they might be exposing themselves to particular and serious risks of which they had not been advised. That represents a serious failure of an employer’s duty of care to employees.
Does Police Scotland have any kind of process for giving all officers the essential information about nuclear weapon convoys? Does Police Scotland provide training to its officers on how to respond in the case of an emergency involving a nuclear weapon convoys, so that their actions will mesh effectively with those of the Ministry of Defence in the context of the LAESI guidelines?
We look forward to hearing from you
Nukewatch
