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Porton Down what’s happening?

Posted by SaysPooh@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 11 comments

Used to here a lot about Porton Down in 70s and 80s both in dramas and the news. All seems to have gone quiet now.

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11 Comments

GrumpyOik@reddit

There are two main sets of labs at Porton: The civilian Rare and Imported Pathogen Laboratory (RIPL) which is part of the UK Health Security agency. They deal with everyday nasties such as Anthrax as well as a host of rare viral infections- primarily acting as referral centre. Back in 2014, when there was the Ebola outbreak, nearly everything went there for confirmation. The other lab is the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. If you take the wrong turn heading to RIPL, you may find yourself at a gate where people are casually carrying machine guns. What is tested there is usually only discussed in very vague terms.
View on Reddit #81850636

Gullible-Try-3440@reddit

Yeah, the work of Dstl is very vague... [Their own website](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dstls-areas-of-work-programmes-and-project-portfolios) has very little information There was [an entire public inquiry](https://www.dawnsturgess.independent-inquiry.uk/) about a fairly large part of their work There was a [relatively recent BBC documentary ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07hx40t), admittedly no longer available on iPlayer but if you can find it, it's very good
View on Reddit #81863032

GrumpyOik@reddit

The world of microbiology relating to pathogens is relatively small. I did postgrad education with a number of military techs who worked at the military side. While civilian scientists are very happy to discuss nearly every aspect of their work, military are obviously bound by the official secrets act. So while you will be able to find multiple papers on e.g. fungal toxins from civilian research, you will find very few from DSTL, By the very nature of their work, you are only going to get generalised answers rather than specifics - which is why I used the term vague.
View on Reddit #81898128

vientianna@reddit

Worked there for 18 months in the 2000s. I could tell you everything that goes on there but I signed the official secrets act so I won’t
View on Reddit #81856398

MrSpoonReturns@reddit

Okay comrade…
View on Reddit #81855370

jumpy_finale@reddit

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x65otqg Inside Porton Down: Britain's Secret Weapons Research Facility Dr Michael Mosley investigates Britain's most secretive and controversial military research base, Porton Down, on its 100th anniversary. He comes face to face with chemical and biological weapons old and new, reveals the truth about shocking animal and human testing, and discovers how the latest science and technology are helping to defend us against terrorist attacks and rogue nations.
View on Reddit #81852116

Dedward5@reddit

Diddnt they have an “Open day” ?
View on Reddit #81851438

ohitmustbe@reddit

'A Higher Form of Killing' by Robert Harris and Jeremy Paxman is a brilliant read about Porton's early years.
View on Reddit #81851113

Fellowes321@reddit

Things appeared a lot because writers steal ideas that seem popular. When I was growing up the “karate chop“ and quicksand seemed to be common things to avoid. Cars should be entered by sliding over the bonnet first and sometimes through the window. Porton down is slowly disposing of hazardous waste which is not exciting telly or investigating new threats which is not for public knowledge.
View on Reddit #81851052

AdSpecialist5007@reddit

[Still going strong.](https://theconversation.com/why-are-safety-concerns-being-raised-inside-porton-down-britains-nerve-centre-of-chemical-and-biological-research-274908)
View on Reddit #81849913

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