The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) at Aldermaston held an ‘internal’ emergency exercise on 16 July after warning local residents they may hear sirens, see external emergency services attending and see simulated smoke.
NIS representatives visited the area and saw armed MoD police patrolling outside the base, the carparks were full and gates shut with Exercise in Progress signs. Apparently a dry ice machine was used to simulate smoke but it was not seen outside the base nor were alarms or sirens heard.
The exercise known as a Zonal Undercover Exercise was internal and supplementary to the annual Level 1 exercises carried out at both the Aldermaston and the Burghfield sites. The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) monitors these exercises each year and reported they had been completed satisfactorily in the past year.
Enquiries with local communities, schools, shops and businesses found that in spite of some press notices and letters only one person was aware of the exercise. Most said they felt concerned about the possibility of sirens and smoke at the Atomic Weapons Establishment when they were unaware of an exercise taking place.