Two people, including a former parliamentary adviser, have been charged with spying for China, British police announced Monday.
London's Metropolitan Police said: Christopher Perry, 32, and Christopher Cash, 29, are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday accused of passing damaging information to a foreign state, China.
Police allege the two men collected, recorded or communicated information “adverse to the security or interests of the state” and breached the Official Secrets Act between the end of 2021 and February 2023.
“This is a very complex investigation for very serious allegations,” admitted Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command.
The Sunday Times newspaper reported last year that Kash had been arrested for spying for Beijing.
Cash is said to have been a parliamentary adviser to ruling Conservative MPs, including Alicia Kearns, who is now chair of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, and her predecessor, Tom Tugenhardt, who is now secretary of state for defence.
According to the newspaper, the suspect had a pass allowing full access to the parliament buildings, which was given to representatives, staff and journalists after a security check.
Last year, British Prime Minister Rishi Chung said he had raised the issue with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, saying he had “very serious concerns” about interference in British democracy.
At the time, the Chinese embassy issued a statement that characterized the allegations as false.
Also today, three people were arrested in Germany on suspicion of spying for China and arranging to exchange information about technology with potential military applications.
Jane Austen is a writer and contributor covering culture, literature, lifestyle, and society. Her work focuses on thoughtful storytelling, social trends, and the issues shaping everyday life, delivering engaging and accessible content for readers across the United Kingdom.
