Tyneside Citizens' Inspection Agency (TCIA)

See foot of page for an introduction to the TCIA.

Closure of compound, 16th February 2004

On the evening of 16th February 2004, a small team of inspectors visited the Secure Vehicle Compound. Following exposure in Parliament of security failings at RAF Leeming in Yorkshire, where an anti-nuclear protester had walked close to the nuclear convoy vehicles undetected when they stayed overnight there before Christmas, the team thought that Albemarle ought to be closed and secured against use by ongoing nuclear weapons transports. With Leeming too insecure to use, and Albemarle out of action, we hope that the government will choose to start decommissioning rather than renewing the Trident weapons.

The following notice was left on the gates of the vehicle compound, where were secured with additional padlocks. The team noted, on visiting Albemarle, that the previous (insecure) outer fence of the compound had been removed entirely.

After securing the gates with new, high-security padlocks and the above "closed" notice, the inspectors wrote the following letter to the Ministry of Defence Police based at Aldermaston.

Albemarle Citizens' Inspection, 14th December 2002

Tyneside Citizens' Inspection Agency (CIA) wrote to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on 27 November 2002, requesting them to arrange for us to inspect the secure vehicle compound at Albemarle Barracks near Stamfordham, Northumberland, for a citizens' inspection, in accordance with the spirit of Resolution 1441 passed by the UN Security Council concerning Iraq. The text of the letter and accompanying documents, and of our press release, is below.

A list of Prerequisites for Inspection and formal request for a declaration re Nuclear Weapons Programme was sent with a covering letter to the MOD at Albemarle Barracks and Catterick Garrison, on Wednesday, 27th November 2002, first class post. In the interests of accountability, the documents sent to the MOD were announced to the press and sent as an 'open' letter.

After a week's silence, the following was sent to the press, on 6th December. We'll see if this `provokes' a response from the MOD...

After continuing silence from the MOD, an inspection was carried out on Saturday afternoon, 14th December 2002. Despite a lack of cooperation from the 2 MOD police and c.6 (armed) soldiers who turned up, the inspectors were able to walk freely onto the base and through the outermost fence, and thoroughly inspect the inner security fences of the compound. Photographs were taken, and a few are available from the photo gallery page linked below.

• photo gallery for photographs available online
• Other photographs may also be available (see press releases for contacts)

The following notices were left at the site, in accordance with UN practice in Iraq:

In addition, the gates of the compound were sealed shut with tape, and 'closure' notices affixed to the gates and fences:

Introduction to the TCIA

Who we are

A group of residents in and around Tyneside, drawn from both the long-standing peace and anti-nuclear movements such as CND, and from the Tyneside Stop the War Coalition that has sprung up since the launch of the current US war on terror, and in particular since the focus by the US and UK on alleged nuclear proliferation in Iraq and (very selectively) elsewhere.

Our position

All countries should comply with international norms outlawing the deployment or development of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons. Transparency and accountability of our own government's nuclear weapons are essential to prevent nuclear proliferation and achieve disarmament worldwide.

What we do

Periodically inspect or in other ways highlight Britain's deployment of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons. Our inspections are open, non-violent and accountable. This website contains copies of documents and links to photographs etc relating to the inspections.

Where do we operate

In and around Tyneside in North East England, UK, but specifically at the "secure vehicle compound" on the edge of Albemarle Barracks, near Stamfordham, Northumberland.

And why there?

Military convoys carry Trident nuclear warheads from the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Berkshire to the Royal Naval Armaments Depot (RNAD) Coulport in Scotland. These convoys travel on public roads in the region, exposing people across Tyneside to the risks of massive Plutonium pollution and the threat of a "dirty bomb" attack. They stay regularly at the vehicle compound at Albemarle Barracks: this compound has no other purpose.