British parliamentary researcher, Christopher Cash, 29, and Christopher Berry, 32, on Monday were charged with espionage under the Official Secrets Act 1911 for allegedly spying for China.
The charges emerged as a result of a thorough investigation conducted by the UK’s Counter Terrorism Policing, who operate under the leadership of the Metropolitan Police, alongside the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The allegations involve providing information “useful to an enemy” and assert that Cash and Berry provided “articles, notes, documents or information” to a foreign state (China), deemed prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK. Both men were arrested in March last year, with their charges relating to activities in both early 2022 and 2023.
The Act criminalizes espionage by prohibiting certain conduct deemed prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK, including obtaining or disclosing information that could be “useful to an enemy.” The charges follow recent legislative reform proposals designed to broaden the scope of espionage activities addressed by the law. These reforms seek to equip law enforcement agencies and the courts with more effective tools to counter state threats. In addition, The National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) recently highlighted China’s state-affiliated actors targeting UK democratic institutions and parliamentarians. These activities include attempts to influence and gather intelligence from individuals important to the UK’s democracy, as allegations of espionage within the UK’s parliamentary circles underscore the vulnerability of sensitive information and the imperative of stringent legal protections.
Dominic Murphy, head of the Counter Terrorism Command, emphasized the complexity of the investigation. Per Murphy, the charges against Berry and Cash highlight the “serious” nature of espionage offenses and the significant efforts undertaken by law enforcement agencies to address such threats to national security.
Nick Price, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division cautioned against any actions that could jeopardise the defendants’ right to a fair trial. He stated, “no one should report, comment or share information online which could in any way prejudice their right to a fair trial”. Murphy has echoed this, urging the public and media to “refrain from any further comment or speculation”.
The charges have sparked a diplomatic response from China, which has vehemently denied the accusations as “completely fabricated” and “malicious slander.”
Both men are due to appear at Westminster Magistrate’s Court on Friday 26 April, where more information is expected to come to light regarding the evidence against the defendants and legal arguments surrounding the charges.
