Sizewell terror response is criticised

Sizewell terror response is criticised

Greenpeace campaigner Paul Schot scales Sizewell B

A top nuclear terrorism expert has said he doubts Suffolk's ability to deal with an attack on the Sizewell nuclear power plant, but the county says its plans are appropriate.

John Large, an independent consultant who helped assess radiation risks at Chernobyl, said that Suffolk County Council is "burying its head in the sand" over a potential terrorist threat.

He said Suffolk's emergency plan is "full of kinks and glitches" which would result in "absolute chaos" if ever required.

The council denies the claim, and said it is working closely with emergency services to determine how best to support them.

Our plan meets the statutory legal requirements and is open and honest about emergency preparations

Jeff Stacey
Emergency Plans Officer
Suffolk County Council

Jeff Stacey, the council's emergency plans officer, said: "In our emergency plan we have taken all reasonable steps to protect the people of Suffolk from a potential incident.

"A terrorist attack in Suffolk, in the unlikely event we became a target, could take any form and therefore it is misleading to focus purely on a Sizewell scenario," he said.

"Our plan meets the statutory legal requirements and is open and honest about emergency preparations."

The council's guidelines for the public, published on its website and in libraries, echo those of the Government in the event of a terrorist attack anywhere in the UK.

Greenpeace breach

The advice given to the public in any type of emergency is: "Go In, Stay In, Tune In".

Greenpeace protesters breached a security barrier at the nuclear power station in January to demonstrate how easy it would be for terrorists to do the same.

Last month, energy minister Brian Wilson admitted that some of the 30 intruders had entered an inner security barrier at Sizewell B during the protest

But he said the incursion did not reach "sensitive areas of the plant" or pose a threat to security.