Civil Nuclear Police Authority Reports Significant Spending Increase and Rise in Workplace Stress Amidst Expansion
The Civil Nuclear Police Authority (CNPA), which oversees the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC), reported a substantial increase in operating expenditure during the 2025-26 financial year. Total spending rose by almost £25 million, reaching £178.7 million. This period was marked by significant operational changes for the policing body, including an expanded protection remit to new energy sites and the cessation of policing duties at older nuclear facilities. Concurrently, the Authority also noted a marked increase in reported workplace stress cases, which rose by 86%.
The detailed figures, published in the CNPA’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2025-26, highlight a dynamic year for the organization responsible for safeguarding civil nuclear sites and materials across the United Kingdom. The total operating expenditure climbed from £154.1 million in 2024-25 to £178.7 million in 2025-26, representing an increase of approximately £24.6 million, or 16%. This financial growth reflects a period of considerable transition and increased responsibility for the Constabulary.
According to the Authority, a significant portion of this increase—£19.7 million—was primarily attributable to additional pay costs. These costs reflected the full-year effect of previous pay awards, higher employer pension and National Insurance contributions, and the transfer of Ministry of Defence Police personnel into the CNC. This transfer was necessitated by the CNC assuming responsibility for armed protection at four additional non-nuclear energy sites, a key expansion of its mandate into broader critical national infrastructure protection.
Staff costs, a major component of the Authority’s budget, rose to £131.1 million from £111.3 million in the previous year. This included £99.2 million allocated to wages and salaries, £14 million for social security costs, and £17.3 million for pension contributions. Despite the overall increase in expenditure, the CNPA reported that it spent less than the amount originally approved for the year. This underspend was attributed to several factors: pay costs were below forecast due to vacancies and a lower-than-anticipated intake of new officers into training programmes. Additionally, delayed project activity and lower property maintenance costs also contributed to the financial underspend, indicating a degree of fiscal prudence amidst expansion.
The report also clarified the Authority’s financial position, stating that its standard operational activities achieved a breakeven position. However, the accounts recorded £6 million more in expenditure than income overall. This discrepancy was primarily due to technical accounting adjustments and non-operational costs that were reimbursed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, illustrating the complex funding mechanisms that support the organization’s diverse responsibilities.
Beyond financial metrics, the Annual Report brought to light concerns regarding staff welfare. A total of 54 workplace stress cases were reported during 2025-26, a significant rise from 29 cases in the preceding year, marking an 86% increase. Stress-related incidents constituted 21% of all reported health and safety incidents within the organization. The CNPA attributed this increase, in part, to more systematic reporting practices, including daily checks of its time-recording system and a requirement for managers to submit health and safety reports when an employee’s absence is linked to work-related stress, suggesting that increased vigilance in reporting may contribute to the higher figures.
Of the 54 reported stress cases, 12 were directly connected to specific organizational changes. These included the cessation of policing activities at the Hunterston B and Hinkley Point B nuclear facilities, as well as the relocation of Corporate Learning and Development functions to the firearms training facility at Bisley. The Authority stated that it had introduced stress risk assessments and various support measures in anticipation of these changes, acknowledging the potential impact of large-scale transitions on its workforce.
Reported injuries also saw an increase, rising from 97 to 119 incidents, a 22.6% increase year-on-year. A majority of these injuries, 63%, occurred within the Training Division. The Authority explained that this concentration was associated with the dynamic and realistic training essential for its officers, which often involves physically demanding scenarios. Fifteen of these incidents were deemed reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), an increase from ten the previous year. Fourteen incidents resulted in more than seven days of lost working time, and one was recorded as a serious near miss. Following investigations, the CNPA concluded that there was no common pattern or trend identified, with incidents occurring at various locations and under diverse circumstances, suggesting a lack of systemic failure but continued vigilance for individual incidents.
The report further detailed two personal data breaches that were escalated to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) during the year. One incident, involving the inadvertent sharing of employee payslips, was subsequently closed by the ICO with no further action required. The second breach remained under investigation by the ICO at the time the report was prepared. The Authority affirmed its commitment to managing all breaches and incidents through established internal processes and emphasized its practice of recording lower-level incidents and near misses for ongoing organizational learning and improvement, demonstrating a proactive approach to data security.
In contrast to the increases in expenditure, stress, and injuries, several other workforce indicators moved in a more favorable direction. Police officer attrition rates decreased from 9% to 7%, while police staff attrition also stood at 7%. The overall police staff headcount saw an increase from 357 to 382, and the number of staff leaving the organization fell from 39 to 28. The Civil Nuclear Constabulary successfully maintained its deployability target of at least 90% throughout the year, demonstrating consistent operational readiness despite significant organizational changes. Furthermore, over 80% of personnel enrolled in its Initial Foundation Programme successfully passed to become newly qualified Authorised Firearms Officers, indicating effective training and recruitment pipelines and a strong influx of qualified personnel.
Chief Constable Simon Chesterman, as quoted in a news update, expressed pride in the year’s accomplishments. He stated,“I am immensely proud of what we achieved in the past year. Officers and staff contributed to our successful delivery of the core mission, the protection of our sensitive civil nuclear sites and material.”He further highlighted the organization’s adaptability, adding,“We also demonstrated our ability to expand our protective services to new areas of critical national infrastructure, and to continue to support national policing needs,”underscoring the CNC’s dual role in specialized site protection and broader national security.
Looking ahead, the Authority has approved a revenue budget of £194.5 million for 2026-27, alongside £14.1 million in capital expenditure. The report identifies persistent challenges, including inflationary pressures, national pay negotiations, and supply-chain costs. The evolving landscape of the nuclear estate presents a distinct workforce challenge, as the recruitment, vetting, and training of new firearms officers require substantial lead times. To address this, the CNC is actively developing retention measures, recognizing the imperative to manage its personnel effectively as existing sites cease operations and demand for officers increases across new nuclear facilities and other critical national infrastructure areas, ensuring continuity of service and expertise.
Why This Matters
The annual report of the Civil Nuclear Police Authority offers a crucial insight into the operational and financial health of an organization vital to the United Kingdom’s national security and energy infrastructure. The significant increase in operating expenditure reflects the growing demands placed upon the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, particularly its expanded role in protecting a broader range of critical national infrastructure sites beyond traditional nuclear facilities. This expansion is a direct consequence of the UK’s evolving energy strategy, which increasingly relies on diverse energy sources that also require robust security measures. Public understanding of how these funds are utilized is essential for accountability, particularly given the reliance on public money and the specific, high-stakes nature of the CNC’s mission, which directly impacts national resilience.
The notable rise in reported workplace stress cases and injuries among officers and staff is a serious concern. The CNC operates in a high-pressure, high-risk environment, where the mental and physical well-being of its personnel is paramount to maintaining operational effectiveness. Elevated stress levels can impact decision-making, readiness, and overall morale, potentially compromising the security of sensitive sites and the safety of the public. Furthermore, a high incidence of injuries, especially in training, underscores the demanding nature of the work and the need for continuous review of safety protocols to protect those who protect others. Ensuring a healthy and supported workforce is not only an ethical responsibility but also a strategic imperative for an organization tasked with protecting critical national assets.
The report also highlights the complex workforce challenges facing the CNC. As older nuclear sites decommission and new energy infrastructure comes online, the Constabulary must adapt its deployment and recruitment strategies. The lengthy lead times required to recruit, vet, and train highly specialized authorised firearms officers mean that effective workforce planning and retention measures are critical to avoid any gaps in protective services. The ability to maintain a highly trained and deployable force directly impacts the resilience of the UK’s critical infrastructure against threats, ranging from terrorism to industrial espionage. This emphasizes the importance of long-term strategic planning for human resources in specialized security roles.
Finally, the details regarding data breaches, while managed internally, underscore the ongoing importance of robust information security practices within sensitive organizations. In an era of increasing cyber threats, protecting personal and operational data is as crucial as physical security. Any compromise of data could have far-reaching implications, affecting both personnel and operational integrity. Overall, the CNPA’s annual report serves as a barometer for the challenges and adaptations required to secure the UK’s energy future and uphold national security in a rapidly changing operational landscape, demonstrating the multifaceted nature of modern security work.