Parliamentary Researcher Accused of Espionage on Behalf of China
Two men, Conservative Party parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash, 29, and Christopher Berry, 32, have been charged with offences under the Official Secrets Act 1911, after a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command. The Metropolitan Police Service confirmed the charges on Monday.
It is alleged that between Jan. 20, 2022 and Feb. 2, 2023, Mr. Cash “obtained, collected, recorded, published, or communicated to any other person articles, notes, documents or information, which were calculated to be, might be, or were intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy,” contrary to the Official Secrets Act 1911. Mr. Berry faces the same charge for activities between Dec. 28, 2021 and Feb. 3, 2023.
Both men, from Witney in Oxfordshire and Whitechapel in East London respectively, have been bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday. They were arrested and released on bail in March 2023. The investigation continued with a case file being passed to the CPS for consideration, leading to charges being authorized by the Attorney General on April 3, 2024.
The CPS stated that the charges relate to providing prejudicial information to China. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, emphasized the seriousness and complexity of the investigation, urging the public to refrain from speculation to allow the legal process to unfold.
Nick Price, head of the CPS’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, confirmed the criminal proceedings against the defendants and warned against sharing information online that could prejudice their right to a fair trial. The two men are set to appear in court on Friday, April 26.
