Page 46 - the SyI Quarterly 13 - (V4)

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Nuclear construction sites tend to be demanding
The Security Threats to Critical and dynamic with risks changing as the build
proceeds. The number of people on site at any
National Infastructure and how one time and the speed of the build, makes
it more challenging to plan for. In contrast,
decommissioning sites have a higher risk at
G4S is Securing Hinkley Point C the beginning of the process when reactors
are shut down and fuel is taken away, meaning
that security is generally easier to plan for. The
- By Noah Price tempo of operations is also much slower for
decommissioning sites compared to the hive of
activity of a construction site. As a result of the
high number of people, machinery and activities,
far more safety, security and medical incidents
Critical national infrastructure (CNI) is, by its very nature, are faced on a construction site on a daily basis
fundamental to the running of any country. Without the than would be seen at a decommissioning site.
contribution from sectors such as energy, society would be
severely impacted. It should therefore be no surprise that CNI is a Revisions of the UK threat levels relating to
perfect target for those who may wish to cause major disruption potential terrorist attacks also have an impact,
or harm. with an expectation that security services have
the ability to react to these changes instantly.
Noah Price, head of the G4S Academy, provides an overview of This means having the resources to upscale
the security threats faced by critical national infrastructure, what security to the appropriate level, depending on
makes good security and the work G4S is doing to secure Hinkley the individual CNI environment. Having access
Point C. to a pool of Suitably Qualified and Experienced
Personnel (SQEP), plus a broad range of
Threats against CNI may be external or come from the inside supporting services (such as canine, which can
and are constantly evolving. The principal threats include theft screen for explosives and firearms etc.), as well
or damage to property, assets and materials, unauthorised entry as being able to rapidly deploy surveillance
(including terrorist, activist and urban exploration) and cyber- technology (such as CCTV Towers), allows
attacks. organisations such as G4S to effectively react to
such demands and build an integrated security
The infrastructure which supports and underpins these sectors solution suitable to mitigate the threat.
therefore needs to be protected against threat and harm, using
modern methods and the latest technology, to ensure that Managing ingress and egress
critical operations are not disrupted should an attack occur. Such The faster pace of operations is observed at
arrangements need a holistic approach to protect the entire nuclear construction sites by the large number of
infrastructure, including both physical and cyber security, and people on site at any one time. At Hinkley Point
ensuring that culture, awareness and behaviour among staff, C (HPC), security staff can search and screen up
contractors and others, is ultimately driven from the top. to 150,000 people a month, 8,000 in a 24-hour
period, 5,000 of whom may need to arrive and
Risk management leave the site in a one-hour period. It is vital to
Threats and risks faced by CNI need to be continually assessed ensure that no inappropriate substances or
and updated, and this is difficult because of ever-changing dangerous materials enter the site, and likewise
circumstances. In the nuclear industry, the UK is currently in a that no expensive tools and materials, or
state of transition with half of our 15 nuclear power reactors sensitive data is removed from the site. As such,
(which supply approximately twenty percent of Britain’s electricity), this takes planning, scheduling and coordination
set to be retired in the next four years. G4S provides security with people logistics, both on and off site to
services to nuclear plants that are under construction or being ensure staff arrive for work on time to prevent
decommissioned, with each site at very different stages of knock-on delays to construction.
operation, displaying different risks and requiring different levels As such, there is a big emphasis within some
of security. CNI sectors on security clearance, not only for
employees, but also contractors, and visitors,
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some of which may be high-profile. At HPC, G4S
supports the client, EDF in the induction and
security screening of the entire workforce and
has developed a package specifically for inducting
people on that site.
All CNI sites take a layered protection approach
to security, with security checks kicking in before
the perimeter for people, equipment and goods.
However, this is frequently not as simple as securing
one area, because many sites have multiple entry
points, especially larger plants that may have
connections via road, rail and ports. It is important
that only authorised personnel are admitted to site
and that they are adequately screened, without
causing any unnecessary delays. At HPC around
200 buses are used daily to shuttle people to park
and ride sites, therefore, it is important to deploy
suitable access control systems that can both
process workers and visitors securely and efficiently.
Achieving the standards
To achieve the required standards in CNI
environments it is important to adopt intelligent
security, using a risk-based approach, backed by
specialist people and approved products. Personnel
in design, installation and operations need to be
suitably and highly qualified to carry out their roles.
Many of these sites are visited by high-profile
individuals, making them a target for terrorist activity
and regularly selected by protesters. They are also
a popular choice for urban exploration. For these
reasons G4S uses enhanced security officers (ESOs)
on its high-risk sites, who can undertake a skilled
and informed approach to appease any hostile
situations. ESOs are highly experienced (often with
ex-military backgrounds) in the de-escalation of
hostile situations such as protests.
Likewise, only the highest standard of equipment
and technology can be employed because external
and insider threats are a real risk given the
sensitive nature of the work undertaken at some
locations. The Centre for the Protection of National
Infrastructure (CPNI) is the government authority
focussed on providing advice and assistance
to those who have responsibility for protecting
these most crucial elements of the UK’s national
infrastructure, and to reduce their vulnerability to
terrorism and other security threats.
CPNI evaluates security products for use in CNI
and Government, against specific CPNI security
standards to assist organisations to identify the