Specialist police officers and workers at some of the UK’s most secure nuclear sites have been sharing jokes about paedophilia, racism and homophobia in work-linked WhatsApp groups, the Guardian can reveal.
Images and messages reviewed by this newspaper show racist comments about public figures and politicians including a black Labour politician as well as homophobic images and conversations about the paedophiles Jimmy Savile and Rolf Harris.
Two groups’ activities have been examined by the Guardian, including one of which has members of the Civil Nuclear constabulary (CNC) at Sellafield in Cumbria and workers there. The other group largely comprises staff in sensitive areas of two other nuclear sites and CNC officers.
Among the messages are racist comments about a black Labour MP, who has been a frequent target of racist abuse online. The conversations also include homophobic memes about a prominent TV presenter. The Guardian has chosen not to name them but offered specific details about the content of the messages and the groups’ geographic locations to the CNC.
The messages also show explicit images of nudity, as well as racist imagery and descriptions of graphic paedophilic acts. They also show men ridiculing female colleagues at the sites for their appearance and sexual attractiveness.
Among the members of the groups, who have taken part in the conversations, are employees of the CNC, tasked with protecting some of the UK’s most sensitive and toxic sites.
The messages have come to light amid broader revelations in Nuclear Leaks, an investigation into cultural challenges, security and safety concerns at Sellafield and other nuclear sites throughout the country.
The groups also suggest that cultural concerns at Sellafield may extend to a range of other sensitive sites, raising questions about conduct within the nuclear sector as a whole.
Sources told the Guardian that they fear a failure to address a negative working culture and concerns ranging from bullying to a lack of trust in management could ultimately undermine the safety of some of the most hazardous sites in Europe.
Studies examining safety in the nuclear industry have found that working culture can feed into how sites are run. A 2020 report from the Office for Nuclear Regulation argued that poor culture fed into events which led to nuclear disasters, including Chornobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011.
Last year, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) began a criminal investigation into messages shared by nuclear police in a WhatsApp group separate to the ones reviewed by the Guardian. The investigation involves “grossly offensive messages” sent by current and former CNC officers. The IOPC said when the investigation was launched that the allegations were “extremely serious and concerning”.
Last year, two Metropolitan police officers were sentenced to three months in prison after being found guilty of sharing racist, homophobic, misogynistic and ableist messages in a WhatsApp group. Another messaging group has been used as an example of a “toxic, abhorrent culture” within the Met.
The chief constable of the CNC, Simon Chesterman, said: “I was disappointed to hear that the Guardian says it has evidence of officers being involved in a group sending unacceptable and offensive messages.
“Without seeing the evidence, it is difficult to comment, and I would urge the matter be reported at the earliest opportunity so this can be investigated fully and referred to the IOPC if necessary. If anyone with information comes forward, we will deal with the matter with due sensitivity and with their wishes in mind.
“I have made it clear that anyone holding misogynistic, racist, homophobic, or other unacceptable views, or who carries out behaviour that breaches our standards of professional conduct, has no place in the CNC. To ensure that officers and staff holding these views are rooted out, we have expanded our professional standards and vetting departments so we know we have the right people to investigate and deal with any wrongdoing. I am committed to ensuring the CNC is an inclusive and respectful place for all.”
A Sellafield spokesperson said: “There is no place for bullying and harassment at Sellafield. We do not tolerate it and where we find it, we take action. If anyone has information related to employee misconduct we urge them to come forward so we can investigate.
“We’re committed to ensuring all of our employees are respected, included, and able to perform at their best.
“We regularly seek the views of our workforce, and it was a survey in 2018 that brought focus to concerns about bullying and harassment.
“We confronted the issue, proactively shared information with employees, and developed a company-wide improvement programme. This work is continuing, and we remain as committed as ever to eradicating unacceptable behaviour from our workplace.
“Since 2018 we have implemented a number of improvements including increased resources for mediation, counselling, and our confidential employee assistance line. We also have a wide range of employee-led networks which provide peer support and advocate for change and improvements.”
