General Atomics

Sellafield security improvements recognised by ONR

The UK's Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has returned the Sellafield site to a routine regulatory regime for physical security after a period of enhanced oversight.



Image courtesy Sellafield

Inspectors cited a sustained period of improved performance, highlighting the close working relationship between ONR inspectors and Sellafield Ltd in achieving this outcome.

Physical security at Sellafield is delivered using a wide range of assets and capabilities and through an approach that includes defence in depth and armed response. A number of physical security assets and capabilities have been improved as part of the return to routine regulatory attention.

Regulatory attention levels are set by ONR and are assigned based on the regulator’s assessment of overall performance, considering a broad range of safety and security considerations and operational issues that a site is addressing.

Gary Wilkinson, head of security and resilience at Sellafield Ltd, said: "Following an action plan over many months, we have successfully met all the requirements set by ONR.

"This is a significant achievement and has been a big team effort from across the company – thank you to everyone involved in this important achievement."

Paul Dicks, ONR’s director of regulation for Sellafield, decommissioning fuel and waste, said: "We have worked closely with Sellafield Ltd through our enabling approach to ensure that the required improvements are delivered.

"I’m satisfied that Sellafield Ltd has demonstrated significant and sustained security improvements which has allowed us to return them to routine regulatory attention."

Sellafield Ltd currently remains in significantly enhanced attention for cyber security and collaborative work is ongoing to achieve the required improvements in this area.

Related

Beyond the hype: Where do air taxis really fit in urban transport?
Beyond the hype: Where do air taxis really fit in urban transport?
Coventry University's Dr Saafa Sindi addresses whether air taxi services are a near term reality or just science fiction.
Aerospace Insights

31 Jul 2026

Robotic parking launched at Gatwick
Robotic parking at Gatwick
Robotic parking launched at Gatwick
Gatwick is the first UK airport to offer robotic parking, with passengers able to use the service beginning this August.
Aerospace

31 Jul 2026

Rolls-Royce posts soaring half-year profit amid defence and data centre boom
Dassault Global 6500 with Rolls-Royce Pearl engine
Rolls-Royce posts soaring half-year profit amid defence and data centre boom
How Rolls-Royce's half-year 2026 financial performance builds on last year and underscores its proving prospects across its Civil Aerospace, Defence, and Power Systems divisions.
Aerospace Defence

31 Jul 2026

UK commits £8.4bn to launch next production phase of Dreadnought submarine programme
Royal Navy Dreadnought submarine
UK commits £8.4bn to launch next production phase of Dreadnought submarine programme
The UK has committed £8.4 billion to the next production phase of the Dreadnought-class submarine, its long-term nuclear deterrent.
Defence

31 Jul 2026

QinetiQ equips young people with cyber skills
CyberFirst Advanced at Lancaster University
QinetiQ equips young people with cyber skills
Hundreds of youngsters have been given the opportunity to equip themselves with real-world cyber skills.
Can you spot the sniper? UK MoD launches summer safety campaign for military training areas
MOD Spot the Sniper
Can you spot the sniper? UK MoD launches summer safety campaign for military training areas
The MOD's new Spot the Sniper campaign challenges the public to find concealed soldiers, raising awareness of dangers in military training areas.
Defence

31 Jul 2026

AccelerComm underpins Eclipse Space’s 5G physical layer for satellite constellations
UK From Space-Telecom
AccelerComm underpins Eclipse Space’s 5G physical layer for satellite constellations
Flight-proven 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) tech from Southampton based AccelerComm, is supporting a scalable direct-to-device and broadband architecture from Starlink veterans behind Eclipse Space.
Member News Space

31 Jul 2026

ALL.SPACE releases Hydra MAX wideband platform for multi-orbit ops
Hydra on Defender
ALL.SPACE releases Hydra MAX wideband platform for multi-orbit ops
ALL.SPACE has released Hydra MAX, designed to unlock next-generation wideband Ka networks with multi-orbit connectivity.
Defence Space

28 Jul 2026

Wiltshire schoolchildren take second place in international rocketry final
Abbeyfield School 2nd Place
Wiltshire schoolchildren take second place in international rocketry final
Schoolchildren from Chippenham achieved second place at the International Youth Rocketry Challenge during the Farnborough International Airshow.
Aerospace Defence Events Security ...

27 Jul 2026

QinetiQ equips young people with cyber skills
CyberFirst Advanced at Lancaster University
QinetiQ equips young people with cyber skills
Hundreds of youngsters have been given the opportunity to equip themselves with real-world cyber skills.
Why drones have become a mainstream security challenge for airports across the UK
Ministry of defence drone
Why drones have become a mainstream security challenge for airports across the UK
Latest Dedrone report reveals why drone incidents are a mainstream security challenge for airports across the UK
Aerospace Security

29 Jul 2026

UK and partners warn of zero-click phishing campaign targeting Western organisations
NCSC warns of Laundry Bear phishing
UK and partners warn of zero-click phishing campaign targeting Western organisations
The UK and partners have exposed a new ‘zero-click’ phishing campaign, warning that Russian state-supported actors are using it to target Western organisations.
Security

28 Jul 2026