UK plans to cut armed escorts on nuclear waste shipments to save costs

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has released a proposal to reduce the number of armed Civil Nuclear Constabulary escorts on some nuclear waste shipments across the UK, aiming to save millions of pounds and streamline security planning. The plan, endorsed by six chief executives including heads of Sellafield and Nuclear Transport Solutions, argues that existing requirements are sometimes disproportionate, especially for maritime transport.

It estimates cost reductions of 10 to 20 percent and faster regulatory processes. Security officials stress that any changes must not compromise safety, while former CNC officer Matt Okuhara and RUSI analyst Rob Jordan caution that the reduction could expose material like plutonium and enriched uranium to heightened threat from Russian grey-zone activities. GCHQ director Anne Keast-Butler has previously warned of escalating Russian hybrid attacks on critical infrastructure. The NDA maintains the proposal will keep safety standards intact while tailoring security to actual risk levels.