Visiting the Civil Nuclear Constabulary at Culham

Today I visited the Civil Nuclear Constabulary at their headquarters in Culham – a very useful and informative meeting with Chief Constable Simon Chesterman, followed by time with the force’s newest recruits.

As part of the new officers' induction, I was asked to explain the role of the High Sheriff and its history. I kept things short – I was standing between them and their break, and the moment when they headed off to collect their uniforms.

The CNC has a unique and vital role in our country’s security. All of its officers are firearms-trained, charged with protecting civil nuclear sites across the UK, and increasingly other parts of our national infrastructure. Their responsibilities have relatively recently expanded to include several of the UK’s gas plants, and I wonder whether their remit may grow further in future as we look at safeguarding other sites of critical national importance.

I was struck by the scale of their contribution just last week, when CNC officers were deployed to Windsor as part of the huge security operation surrounding the state visit of the President of the United States. It’s a reminder that this is a national force, not a local one – highly trained, highly specialised, and utterly professional.

My thanks to Chief Constable Chesterman for his time today, and to the recruits for their warm welcome. I came away with a renewed respect for the role the CNC plays in keeping us safe – often quietly, often without public recognition, but always with dedication.