MoD's own experts reveal nuclear arms safety flaws

Dozens of potentially disastrous flaws in the safety regime for nuclear weapons have been exposed by secret Ministry of Defence reports seen by the Observer.

Safety procedures at the bomb factory at Aldermaston in Berkshire have been "poor", nuclear weapons convoys have suffered from "crew fatigue" and safety regulations have been ignored by nuclear submarine commanders, according to the MoD's internal safety watchdogs.

The reports, released after a three-year freedom of information battle, also show that the "intrinsic safety" of Trident nuclear warheads was put at risk by an argument between Britain and the United States.

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