Parliamentary researcher charged with spying for China

A parliamentary researcher has been charged with carrying out espionage work on behalf of China.

The Metropolitan Police announced Christopher Cash had been charged alongside another man, Christopher Berry.

Nick Price, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service Counter Terrorism Division has today authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge two men with espionage offences.

“Christopher Berry, 32, and Christopher Cash, 29, will be charged with providing prejudicial information to a foreign state, China, and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 26 April.

“Criminal proceedings against the defendants are active. No one should report, comment or share information online which could in any way prejudice their right to a fair trial.”

The two men have been charged with offences under the Official Secrets Act.

Between Dec 28 2021 and Feb 3 2023, Mr Berry, from Witney, Oxfordshire is alleged to have “obtained, collected, recorded, published or communicated notes, documents or information” which may be “directly or indirectly useful to an enemy”.

Mr Cash, from Whitechapel, London, faces the same charge relating to a period spanning January 20 2022 to Feb 3 2023.

Scotland Yard said the foreign state to which the charges relate is China.

The men were initially arrested in March 2023 before being released on bail.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Counter Terrorism Command, said it was “an extremely complex investigation into very serious allegations”.

He added: “We’ve worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service as our investigation has progressed and this has led to the two men being charged today.

“We’re aware there has been a degree of public and media interest in this case, but we would ask others to refrain from any further comment or speculation, so that the criminal justice process can now run its course.”