Radiological Source Security

Abstract While radiological sources can be used for a variety of beneficial purposes, their misuse poses an ongoing security risk. This threat is set to increase due to the persistent growth in the legitimate uses of radiological sources. Although there has been limited non-state actor interest in radiological material, the potential tragic consequences of radiological material falling out of regulatory control have already been demonstrated by radiological accidents, when no harm was intended. To avoid such incidents, non-legitimate access to radiological material must be denied through the development of security systems. The chapter covers the essential elements of radiological source security, with a focus on how the international community has attempted to improve the effective implementation of these principles through a range of initiatives. Maintaining an effective radiological security regime will always be challenging in practice due to the range of actors involved, their limited capacities to focus on security issues compared to nuclear facilities, the often public-facing nature of the institutions hosting radiological sources, and the number and diversity of radiological materials in need of securing around the world. The chapter focuses on how states can cooperate in sharing best practices of implementing and improving radiological source security through legislative, regulatory, and institutional reforms. The chapter also draws on efforts undertaken in various national contexts, specifically Malaysia and the United Kingdom, as case studies to demonstrate how to improve radiological source security in a sustainable way.