Swindon & Wiltshire News
Queen performs first official visit since lockdown to Salisbury facility
The Queen has made her first official visit since the coronavirus pandemic began, travelling to Salisbury to open a new facility at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down.
The Queen, accompanied by Prince William, officially opened Dstl’s new £30 million Energetics Analysis Centre, which deals in counter-terrorism.
The Energetics Analysis Centre is a state-of-the-art building from which hundreds of scientists conduct world-class research and analysis to give the UK military and security advantage, protecting against terrorist and criminal threats.
The expert team’s impact extends across Government, reaching the Ministry of Defence, Home Office, Department for Transport and other agencies.
Hosted by Dstl’s Chief Executive, Gary Aitkenhead, The Queen and the Duke of Cambridge viewed interactive displays and met a number of scientists at a social distance who explained how Dstl’s science and technology keeps the public safe by detecting explosives, helping to identify terrorist networks and analysing vital forensic evidence to help bring those involved in terrorism to justice.
DSTL and its team were recognised last year for the role they played during the Novichok nerve agent attack on Salisbury.
More recently scientists based at the facility have been playing an important role in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.
