The Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS) is the security regulator for the UK’s civil nuclear industry. OCNS conducts its regulatory activities on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR), (formerly the Department of Trade and Industry) under the authority of the Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003(NISR 2003). The relationship between the HSE and DBERR is covered by a Memorandum of Understanding between the two bodies and an agreement under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Links to these documents appear below.
Under NISR 2003, operators of civil licensed nuclear sites or those who use or store Category I-III nuclear material at other premises must have site security plans approved by OCNS. Furthermore, if a licensed site has a tenant on the site who uses or stores nuclear or other radioactive material, including sources, then the tenant must have a security plan. These plans detail the security arrangements for the protection of nuclear sites, nuclear and other radioactive material and sensitive nuclear information on such sites. These arrangements cover, for example, physical security protection features such as fencing, CCTV, access controls, intruder alarms and the roles of security guards and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary. Also covered are the arrangements for the protection of sensitive nuclear information and IT systems. Transporters of nuclear material outside of civil licensed nuclear sites also have to be approved by OCNS and transport security plans are required to be in place before the transport of certain nuclear materials can take place.
The security vetting of nuclear industry personnel who require access to nuclear material and sensitive nuclear information is also conducted by OCNS. OCNS carries out regular inspections to ensure compliance with the requirements of security plans.
OCNS also publishes an Annual Report on the “State of Security in the Civil Nuclear Industry and the Effectiveness of Security Regulation”. The links to these reports and other useful documents is below.
OCNS is located on the Harwell nuclear site in Oxfordshire. For more information Contact us.