Public Services

A serving member of the Royal Navy has been charged with two offences under the National Security Act 2023 following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing London. The Metropolitan Police⁠ identified him as Teddy Young, 24, and said he was arrested at his home in Bedfordshire on Tuesday, 6 October. He was taken into custody in

An independent investigation into military training establishments is examining welfare and behaviour following allegations of rape, sexual assault, and harassment at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate. BBC News reported on Wednesday⁠ that the investigation covers 10 training sites in England. It is being led by Armed Forces Commissioner Polly Miller-Perkins and includes the college where

Britain’s National Energy System Operator has asked electricity providers to make more power available for Tuesday evening, 6 October, after forecasting a tighter margin between supply and demand. It says households do not need to take any action. NESO issued an Electricity Margin Notice for the period from 3 pm to 11 pm. It estimated a

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has launched a legal challenge to search warrants used by Thames Valley Police during the investigation that led to his arrest in February. The Judicial Office confirmed on Monday 5 October that a High Court hearing will take place on Thursday. The proceedings concern warrants authorising searches, rather than a determination of the

The Disclosure and Barring Service has reduced its fees from Monday, 5 October, bringing the price of an enhanced criminal record check down from £49.50 to £41. Basic and standard checks now cost £20 each, while an annual Update Service subscription costs £15. The reductions were announced on 9 September and take effect today, according to

Counter-terrorism police have arrested a 25-year-old dual British-Iranian national as they investigate suspicious activity near RAF Fairford, an airbase in Gloucestershire. The man was arrested in Westminster, London, on Thursday, 1 October, on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism. Police said they also searched two properties in the area. He has not been charged. What

Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, has warned universities to immediately review collaborations with a Chinese research institute it says finances work that strengthens Beijing’s espionage capabilities. The warning, published on Wednesday, 30 September, names the China General Technology Research Institute, or CGTRI, sometimes translated as the China Academy of General Technology. MI5 says the organisation has strong ties to China’s Ministry of State Security, its civilian intelligence and security service. China’s embassy in London rejects the allegations. In its official espionage alert, MI5 says more than 100 UK-linked academics contributed to projects funded by the ministry through CGTRI. Some may not have known the institute was financing the Chinese research projects they were contributing to. (mi5.gov.uk) Research collaborations come under scrutiny  The projects covered artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, covert communications and steganography, which involves concealing information within other material. MI5 says the work supports Chinese intelligence capabilities and poses a threat to UK national security. However, the agency acknowledges that many institutions and individuals may have engaged in good faith because the institute’s intelligence connections were concealed. The alert does not identify the academics, universities or individual projects involved. It also does not establish that every participant knowingly assisted Chinese intelligence. The distinction matters when assessing the conduct of researchers who may have understood their work to be an ordinary academic collaboration. (mi5.gov.uk) Government urges universities to end arrangements  Security Minister Dan Jarvis said he had written to university leaders across Britain, asking them to support staff in ending relationships with the institute. Reuters reported that Jarvis described the activity as an attempt by Chinese intelligence to benefit covertly from British academic expertise. He also emphasised the value of international partnerships while saying the government would act against security threats. Reuters reported that MI5 described the warning as its first independently published public alert of this kind. (reuters.com) On Friday, the Financial Times reported that universities were examining their records following the warning. That indicates institutional checks are underway, although it does not establish how many affected arrangements have been identified or terminated. (ft.com) Potential criminal consequences require careful assessment  MI5 draws attention to the National Security Act 2023, particularly offences involving assistance to a foreign intelligence service and obtaining material benefits from one. Section 3 covers conduct likely to materially assist a foreign intelligence service in UK-related activities where the person knows, or ought reasonably to know from the circumstances, that their conduct would provide that assistance. Section 17 concerns obtaining, accepting or agreeing to accept material benefits supplied by or on behalf of a foreign intelligence service, subject to the statutory conditions. The warning does not mean that every previous collaboration constitutes an offence. Criminal liability depends on the facts and the relevant legal requirements. Publishing an intelligence assessment is also different from securing a conviction in court. (legislation.gov.uk, legislation.gov.uk) China rejects the allegations  In its published response, China’s embassy called the accusations “imaginary and purely fabricated” and said it had raised objections with British officials. The embassy maintained that academic exchanges between the countries were voluntary, lawful, and mutually beneficial. It urged British intelligence authorities to stop undermining educational and research cooperation. Its response disputes MI5’s assessment but does not provide a project-by-project explanation of the funding arrangements described in the alert. (gb.china-embassy.gov.cn) Support is available for research institutions  The government’s Research Collaboration Advice Team provides institutions with advice about national security risks connected to international research. It works with academics and university leaders on proportionate safeguards, including understanding relevant laws and assessing risks to sensitive technology, data, and expertise. The team is an advisory service, rather than an enforcement body. Its stated purpose includes helping institutions sustain successful international partnerships while protecting research from covert or coercive activity. Separately, the National Protective Security Authority’s Trusted Research guidance helps researchers, university staff and funding organisations protect sensitive work and intellectual property from theft, misuse or exploitation. (gov.uk, npsa.gov.uk) Earlier warnings targeted professional networking sites  The latest alert follows a June warning from the Five Eyes intelligence partnership, comprising Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. That bulletin described Chinese intelligence officers posing as recruiters or consultants, using professional networking and job platforms to approach people with access to sensitive information. It concerned a different method of obtaining expertise and information. The CGTRI alert focuses specifically on research funding and collaboration, leaving universities to establish whether their own projects involve the organisation MI5 has named. (mi5.gov.uk)

The UK government has announced plans to introduce specialist courtrooms for rape and serious sexual offence cases across England and Wales. Under the programme, every Crown Court will have at least one specially equipped courtroom within the next two years. The government says the changes will reduce delays and make the court process less distressing

A video circulating on social media falsely claims that driving without a licence will become legal in the United Kingdom from 1 October 2026. The video says provisional licence holders will be allowed to drive alone after completing an approved safety course, without taking a practical driving test. It also presents the change as a

Households across the United Kingdom are being encouraged to keep basic emergency supplies at home in case essential services are temporarily disrupted. The official guidance covers events such as severe weather, flooding, power cuts, water outages, infrastructure failures and situations in which people may be told to remain at home or evacuate. It does not