Case Study 10. Security Enhancements Programme
Updated 3 June 2021
© Crown copyright 2021
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/llwrs-journey-to-success-2008-to-2021/case-study-10-security-enhancements-programme
The Security Enhancements Programme (SEP) team were entitled to enjoy their festive break in 2019. They had completed the construction phase of the £35 million programme on Christmas Eve, one week ahead of the schedule set six years earlier with the regulator and within the original cost range.
SEP stemmed from an ONR inspection of the Repository site’s security resilience in 2013 and led to LLWR agreeing a series of Improvement Actions with regulator ONR in line with the new security standards.
And as with LLWR’s PCM Programme, collaborative working and the building of strong relationships with framework partner Graham Construction and its sub-contractors were key in delivering ONR and project milestones.
As part of the programme a robust new security fence was erected around the site perimeter and the reception area re-designed to allow vehicle searches and visitor management before entry to the secure area of the site. The new weldmesh steel fence was topped with a robust razor barb and coloured green to best fit in with its environment. A patrol track was also laid adjacent to the new fence.
A Site Emergency Control Centre (SECC) includes a state-of-the-art Site Emergency Control Room and facilities to house the security guardforce, whilst additional security improvements were implemented at LLWR’s Pelham House site.
COVID-19 disrupted the plan for an official opening of SECC by Copeland MP Trudy Harrison in April 2020, the final major element of the programme to be completed.
LLWR had been eager to display its new hi-tech centre, within security constraints, but weeks ahead of the big day it took the cautious yet pragmatic approach and postponed the event, before the first national lockdown was announced.
The lack of an official opening did not prevent SECC becoming operational and it is now a key element in LLWR’s security, aligned to current standards and industry norms.
Nigel Lister, LLWR’s Executive Director of Safety, Security, Health, Environment & Quality, said: “The new robust facilities greatly increase both the security of the site and our ability to respond to a safety or security event effectively.
“It has been a huge effort from the project team, supported by Site Operations, Engineering and all the functions. The infrastructure is there to support a site emergency response.”