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The Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) has tested its ability to coordinate a rapid, multi-agency response to a serious incident during a major command-and-control exercise known as Operation Hermes. The scenario placed the force’s Command and Control Centre (CCC) under intense pressure, requiring officers to assess information quickly and activate the appropriate command structures.
Delivered by the CNC’s Exercise & Resilience Team, the exercise centred on a series of simulated emergency calls replicating an attack on a nuclear site. Control room staff were required to follow established procedures, escalating information to the Strategic Firearms Commander and Tactical Advisors while making timely notifications to key partners including Counter Terrorism Command, Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists and local Home Office police forces.
Although no physical deployment took place, organisers stressed that the decision-making demands and information flow were deliberately realistic. The focus was on how effectively the CCC could capture critical details, coordinate with external agencies and ensure the right resources were engaged without delay.
Steve Warren, Exercise and Resilience Manager at the CNC, said the exercise reflected the pressures faced during genuine emergencies. “These exercises challenge our team to make the right notifications, record and relay critical information, and identify the appropriate agencies and command structures to involve,” he said. “Even simulated, the pressure mirrors real-life incidents and tests the skills our CCC officers rely on every day.”
The event marked the first Operation Hermes exercise in two years. Warren praised the performance of staff, describing it as both swift and accurate, and confirmed that further scenarios would take place over the coming months, including live interaction with external partners to enhance realism.
The CNC said exercises of this kind are central to its operational resilience programme, providing assurance that systems, processes and personnel remain ready to manage complex incidents and protect public safety whenever required.
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