HMIC PRESSED ON NUCLEAR COP MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS

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NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

HMIC PRESSED ON NUCLEAR COP MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS

The Celtic League has written to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC) asking about allegations of misconduct and impropriety aired in the media in 2013 concerning the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC).

The CNC is an armed police force which guards nuclear installations including Sellafield and Nuclear power plants such as Heysham and Wylfa.

The reports including one in the UK broadsheet newspaper 'The Independent' which is not noted for sensationalism said:
“Police officers with the elite force that guards Britain ’s nuclear power stations have been caught drunk, using drugs, misusing firearms and also accused of sexual harassment and assault.”
The article went on:
“The offences by officers with the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC), released under the Freedom of Information Act, have raised concerns about the safety of the UK ’s nuclear plants and radioactive material.”
(The link to the full Independent article is attached below).
Similar reports appeared in both UK and overseas media.
At the time the Celtic League wrote to HMIC but although we received a comprehensive reply it did not answer the queries raised because HMIC said the CNC was last inspected in 2009. However they did indicate that another inspection was scheduled.
The Celtic League have now asked HMIC if that inspection has gone ahead and if so was there any substance to the serious allegations reported in the media – the text of our letter is set out below:
“Mr Tom Winsor
Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary
HM Inspectorate of Constabulary
6th Floor
Globe House
89 Eccleston Square
London
SW1V 1PN

31/12/14

Dear Sir,

I wrote to your Office in July 2013 referring to reports in the United Kingdom and foreign media earlier that year relating to the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC).

The allegations made in the media at that time were that members of the CNC, the armed police force that guards Britain ’s nuclear power stations, had been caught drunk, using drugs, misusing firearms. The reports also made allegations of sexual impropriety and assault.

In August 2013 I received a response from Mr Stephen Otter your officer responsible for this area which although substantial in content did not address the specific issues we raised.

However Mr Otter did say:

“We will inspect the force in the future, but the terms of reference of any inspection as well as a proposed date have yet to be determined.”

He also indicated in his letter that the year of the previous inspection was 2009.

Can I ask if any subsequent inspection been undertaken and if so has HMIC established if there was any credibility in the media allegations made during 2013?

Yours sincerely

J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information”

Related links at the Celtic League main news archive:

https://www.celticleague.net/news/hmic-pressed-on-cnc-drunk-on-duty-alle...

https://www.celticleague.net/news/nuclear-cops-inspection-reports-secret/

Media reports

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/safety-fears-over-elite-polic...

http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/06/27/311126/elite-police-drunk-at-uk...

J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information

31/12/14

(Please note that replies to correspondence received by the League and posted on CL News are usually scanned hard copies. Obviously every effort is made to ensure the scanning process is accurate but sometimes errors do occur.)

ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.

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