The Civil Nuclear Constabulary said on 9 January 2026 that officers maintained armed policing and public‑safety activity across its Scottish sites during prolonged snow and ice, highlighting extended shifts, mutual support between teams and welfare checks for isolated residents. Named locations included Dounreay, St Fergus, Garlogie and Torness. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scottish-teams-dedication-praised-during-severe-winter-weather?utm_source=openai))
Operationally, Dounreay faced the most difficult conditions. CNC reported extensive clearance work to keep training and operational facilities running, with duty rotas adjusted to maintain coverage despite travel disruption. Torness officers remained at readiness should conditions deteriorate. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scottish-teams-dedication-praised-during-severe-winter-weather?utm_source=openai))
At St Fergus and Garlogie, officers used specialist vehicles to sustain a visible local presence and helped deliver essential supplies where residents were unable to leave home. CNC framed these actions as part of keeping policing services uninterrupted through the weather cycle. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/scottish-teams-dedication-praised-during-severe-winter-weather?utm_source=openai))
CNC’s remit is set in the Energy Act 2004, which created the Civil Nuclear Police Authority and defines the force’s jurisdiction and cooperative arrangements with territorial forces. In parallel, the Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003 require each nuclear site to operate to an approved security plan, which must cover standards, procedures and arrangements for protecting facilities, materials and sensitive information. ([legislation.gov.uk](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/20/notes/division/5/3?utm_source=openai))
Since 1 April 2025 CNC has also provided armed protection at specific non‑nuclear energy infrastructure with the Secretary of State’s consent under section 55A of the Energy Act 2004-context for its role at St Fergus and Garlogie. This formalises continuity of armed presence at energy assets where disruption could have wider system impacts. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/additional-services-carried-out-by-cnc-under-the-energy-act-2004))
In Scotland, severe‑weather response sits within established multi‑agency arrangements. Regional and Local Resilience Partnerships coordinate planning and response with Category 1 responders, while Police Scotland has led multi‑agency updates through recent amber and yellow warnings in the Highlands and Islands. CNC integrates with these structures through site plans and memoranda with local forces. ([ready.scot](https://ready.scot/how-scotland-prepares/preparing-scotland-guidance/purpose-regional-resilience-partnerships-risk/multi-agency-collaboration?utm_source=openai))
Regulators expect resilience to external hazards. The Office for Nuclear Regulation’s guidance requires licensees to account for reasonably foreseeable climate and meteorological risks in safety cases, using external‑hazards assessment principles. Severe winter weather, including heavy snow and ice, sits within that assurance framework. ([onr.org.uk](https://www.onr.org.uk/our-work/climate-change/guidance/?utm_source=openai))
The National Risk Register 2025 lists severe weather as a persistent national risk, and the Met Office has maintained a network of recent warnings for snow and ice. CNC’s report of uninterrupted policing therefore aligns with the wider government posture on winter resilience and public safety. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-risk-register-2025?utm_source=openai))
ONR’s 2025 themed inspection on climate change found progress but called for further work to ensure medium‑ and long‑term resilience at several sites, including Dounreay, reinforcing the need for operators and policing partners to keep winter contingencies current and exercised. ([onr.org.uk](https://www.onr.org.uk/news/all-news/2025/07/climate-change-report-highlights-more-work-required-by-industry/?utm_source=openai))
For operators, the immediate implication is that site security duties-armed response, access control and escorting-must remain deliverable under adverse conditions without eroding officer welfare or safety. For local authorities and resilience partners, CNC’s update offers assurance that critical nuclear and energy assets continued to be policed as transport, power and community‑care demands rose during the storms. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-nuclear-constabulary/about?utm_source=openai))