Defence cuts: Security ‘weakened’ at Faslane after MoD axe 1,800 police

The MoD police are responsible for guarding Faslane – the home of Trident – and Coulport and other sensitive sites, and last night the SNP and Labour were demanding urgent clarification over where the axe will fall.

The cuts, first revealed by The Scotsman in December, were confirmed by defence minister Andrew Robathan yesterday and will see the MoD police downsized to about 2,400 by April 2016.

This will mean fewer security staff at some sites and a shift to more security being undertaken by staff who do not require police powers. Local police forces will also be utilised more.

Mr Robathan insisted that security would be maintained at all sites, with a mixture of further measures due to be examined thoroughly after staff were consulted last year.

He said the MoD carried out a review of its civil policing and guarding policy in the wake of the Comprehensive Spending Review and the Strategic Defence and Security Review earlier in the parliament.

He said it was the MoD’s “duty” to make savings both for the benefit of the taxpayer and to ensure resources are focused on the front line.

Savings are set to be found by relying more on physical security and less on the continuous presence of personnel, giving regular service personnel a greater role and reviewing where security can be carried out without policing powers.

Regular local police forces have primacy in pursuing incidents and criminal investigations anyway, Mr Robathan said.

He continued: “I do not expect staff affected by these changes to welcome them, and I recognise – and very much regret – the uncertainty and anxiety caused to the personnel involved, who have made a vital contribution to defence security over many years.

“The fact remains, however, we must focus on our new security requirements, not on the past but on what is essential for the future.

“We can and will make savings in guarding and civil policing, but effective security arrangements will be maintained at all defence sites.”

But last night the SNP warned that the decision could have implications for Faslane and Coulport on the Clyde.

SNP Westminster leader and defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP said: “The MoD police play a vital role and are an extremely professional force, and these major cuts in manpower are deeply concerning.

“There has been concern that, ahead of this announcement, the MoD reduced their risk assessment at sensitive sites purely to justify cuts in police numbers.

“Even though the majority of people in Scotland, like the SNP, oppose nuclear weapons being stored here, they must be properly secured.

“Whether at Faslane, Coulport or other sensitive conventional and civil facilities, it is critical that the appropriate MoD police numbers remain.”

Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy also called for clarification on where the cuts would fall.

He said: “There will be very real concerns about the impact on protecting munitions stores, but most importantly our nuclear bases.

“We must be told the full implications of this decision.”

He added: “This is a pretty shabby way to sack 1,800 people. Sneaking out a statement on the eve of Easter recess is no way to end the MoD careers of so many brave men and women.”

The Defence Police Federation (DPF) said it feared the government was putting savings ahead of safety in making the cuts.

Eamon Keating, national chairman of the DPF, said: “This announcement formalises what we have suspected for some time: namely that ministers are happy to put the bottom line ahead of security.

“These decisions will put security of key establishments in the hands of security providers who lack the training, investigative powers and constabulary authority of MoD police officers.

“The results will be greater risk to our establishments, assets and personnel, not less.”