Armed officers guarding Britain’s nuclear assets are taking the government to the High Court over plans to make them work to 68, despite the police retirement age being 60.
The police federation for the Civil Nuclear Constabulary has been granted a judicial review against the intention to make more than 1,500 trained firearms officers to work longer.
The force recently agreed to provide back-up officers in the event of a terror attack, with the military standing in to protect nuclear reactors and powers stations.
The CNC answers to the Department of Energy and Climate Change where the retirement age is set to rise in line with other departments.
Nigel Dennis, chief executive of the Civil Nuclear Police Federation, said that officers would struggle to pass the fitness and aptitude tests. “Dad’s Army doesn’t even come into it. It’s not the safe thing to do and it’s not morally right,” he said.
“Police officers all retire at 60 but as we are a national police force and not a territorial police force, the Treasury are digging their heels in.”
There were fears last year, after George Osborne backed down on plans for police cuts, that the CNC, British Transport Police and Ministry of Defence Police were at risk, but numbers have remained static, Mr Dennis said.
