Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson plans ‘drones and robots’ to respond to chemical attacks The UK says it will develop the capability to respond to chemical attacks and nerve agents with unmanned drones to lower risks to humans

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced funding to develop “drones and robots” to deal with chemical attacks, one year on from the Salisbury poisoning.

The Ministry of Defence has announced funding to boost the use of drones and unmanned vehicles “to conduct testing and identification” in the event of a future chemical attack.

Reduced risk to humans

The MoD says the capability to use robots to deal with future incidents “will be developed over the coming years”, and will decease “the risk posed to humans through contact with nerve agents.”

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£11 million in new funding will go towards the plan to bolster the UK’s response to chemical attacks.

In a release, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “After the Novichok attack in Salisbury a year ago, the nation turned to the Armed Forces and expert scientists.

“From the investigation to the clean-up, the military and everyone involved in the operation have worked tirelessly to decontaminate the streets of Salisbury.

We recognise we need resilience to face evolving threats Gavin Williamson

“Britain and its allies have also demonstrated that they will take a stand against the use of chemical weapons, from the sanctions enforced on Russia following the reckless use of Novichok to the strikes against the chemicals used by Syrian regime.”

He added: “We recognise we need resilience to face evolving threats which is why we have invested £11million into ensuring we have a world-leading capability.”

Complex and daunting challenge

Army Lieutenant General Ty Urch, who oversaw military involvement in the Salisbury clean-up, said: “The decontamination work in Salisbury and Amesbury over the last 12 months has been a complex and daunting challenge for the Armed Forces.

All of the personnel involved demonstrated adaptability, professionalism, resilience and courage Lieutenant General Ty Urch

“All of the personnel involved demonstrated adaptability, professionalism, resilience and courage; they have been absolutely first-class and lived up to their world-leading reputation.

“This investment will allow us to further improve our expertise and, most importantly, keep the public safe.”

The announcement comes ahead of the first anniversary of the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal on 4 March.

Salisbury clean-up complete

A police officer who had been sent to investigate the attack, Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, was hospitalised after being exposed to the nerve agent Novichok while attending the home of the Skripals.

Mr Bailey, who spent two and a half weeks in hospital, returned to active duty in January.

Clean-up work in Salisbury concluded on 1 March, after a year-long decontamination effort at 12 sites.

Officials said the end of decontamination “marks a significant milestone in South Wiltshire’s return to normality following the sickening Novichok nerve agent attack.”

The work to decontaminate the sites involved around 190 military personnel from the Royal Air Force and Army, supported by specialist contractors.