“People have gone above and beyond,” said Chief Constable Simon Chesterman, as the Civil Nuclear Constabulary praised Scottish officers for keeping policing and public safety running through weeks of snow and ice.

With further storms forecast, teams at Dounreay, St Fergus, Garlogie and Torness worked through difficult travel and sub‑zero conditions to maintain an uninterrupted presence across their sites and surrounding communities.

At Dounreay, heavy and drifting snow saw staff pick up shovels as well as radios. Crews cleared training areas and key routes so facilities stayed safe and usable despite repeated freezes. Some officers worked extended shifts to maintain cover when roads were shut or unsafe.

In Aberdeenshire, St Fergus and Garlogie units relied on specialist vehicles to reach remote posts and keep a visible local presence. Officers carried out welfare checks on isolated residents and helped deliver essential supplies to people unable to leave their homes.

Although conditions at Torness were less severe, units remained on standby and ready to scale up if the weather worsened, ensuring a rapid response capability throughout the cold snap.

Careful planning underpinned the effort. Duty rosters were organised around welfare and safety, allowing services to continue with minimal disruption even as journeys lengthened and temperatures dropped.

Photographs released by the CNC show deep snow at Dounreay and drifts around Garlogie - a reminder of how quickly routine shifts turn into resilience work when winter bites.

Chesterman praised the “safe, professional and determined” response, saying the teamwork across Scotland showed the constabulary’s resilience and its commitment to keeping people safe in tough conditions.

For readers across the North, there’s a clear read‑across: the CNC also polices nuclear sites on our side of the border, so robust winter plans in Scotland support wider network resilience and public safety.

The constabulary said it will continue to monitor conditions closely and keep contingency measures in place as winter continues, with officers prepared to respond as further weather systems move in.