The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has commissioned an independent review of its Security Assessment Principles (SyAPs).
Following a competitive tender exercise, the contract was awarded to Templar Executives Ltd.
In 2017, ONR published SyAPs as the world’s first outcome focused regulatory framework for nuclear security, mirroring the well-established Safety Assessment Principles (SAPs).
SyAPs were developed in consultation with industry representatives, and in part to answer their calls for greater flexibility offered by an outcome-focused approach.
From the outset, ONR made a commitment to industry to review SyAPs and their implementation as part of our assurance and commitment to continuous improvement.
This is not a review of dutyholders, or dutyholders’ site security arrangements, but a review of the guidance, principles and processes embodied in SyAPs, and their ability to support dutyholders’ planning and ONR’s regulation.
It will provide feedback on good practices to continue, along with potential areas for improvement.
Lynne Mackay, ONR's Head of Domestic Safeguards and Nuclear Security Policy, said: “We are the only regulator pursuing outcome-focused regulation of nuclear security, and five years on from the introduction of SyAPs, we and industry would benefit from an independent evaluation of this approach.
“Comprehensive and candid input from industry is crucial to ensuring the quality and efficacy of the review and we encourage full participation.”
Andrew Fitzmaurice, Chief Executive Office, Templar Executives, said: “We are delighted and privileged to lead this independent review of the current Security Assessment Principles (SyAPs) for the Office for Nuclear Regulation.
“Templar Executives has been engaged with the security of the civil nuclear sector for many years, from security audits and assessments through to providing strategic advice and programmatic support.
“The team for this specialist review will comprise senior Templar Executives staff augmented by world-class specialists in nuclear from our strategic academic partner, Lancaster University.
“The review has already commenced and the team is reaching out to stakeholders across the sector in the UK and overseas.”
The findings of the independent review will be shared with dutyholders following its completion next spring.
The focus of the review is to gather dutyholder views and experiences of SyAPs, and Templar will contact security dutyholders directly throughout the review.
However, if you wish to share views and feedback regarding SyAPs, please get in touch with ONR, via contact@onr.gov.uk