Armed police at power site.

Byline: Matthew Pardo

Increased security at Hartlepool nuclear power station will mean that armed police are to roam the site.

Government officials and specialist nuclear police insist the measure is not because of any particular threat but simply to improve existing security.

Until now the Hartlepool power station has been policed and protected by unarmed British Energy security staff.

But earlier this year the Office of Civil Nuclear Security said the threat posed by global terrorism meant the time had come to step up onsite protection.

It said that specially trained, armed and deployed police officers from the UK Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary (AEAC) should guard nuclear sites.

The announcement comes just weeks after rabbit baiters were seen close to, and even on, the 'secure' site.

"Security at all nuclear installations is kept under constant review," said a spokeswoman for the AEAC. "The timing of this isn't in response to any specific threat."

Hartlepool Power Station director Stuart Crooks said that armed officers brought in would work with security teams at the plant.

"As with all British Energy sites, safety and security at Hartlepool Power Station is our number one priority and we work closely with our security regulator," Mr Crooks said.

A spokesman for the Department of Trade and Industry said there would be consultation with interested groups on the armed officer plans, but that specialist officers would be deployed at all UK power stations from now.

He refused to disclose details of how the officers would work.

Mike Turner, councillor for Seaton Carew and a member of the nuclear power station Local Community Liaison Council, said: "I have always been confident that the security measures in place were fine and I don't think we should get alarmed by this.

"We should not think that we in Hartlepool are suddenly a target," he added.