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Post Reply: UK Drops Espionage Charges Against Two Men Accused of Spying for China

<blockquote><div class="quotetitle">Quote from <a class="profile-link highlight-moderator" href="https://lawguide.co.ke/understanding-law/legal-forum/profile/lawyer/">Lawyer</a> on September 15, 2025, 2:59 pm</div><div id="pl-7915"  class="panel-layout" ><div id="pg-7915-0"  class="panel-grid panel-no-style" ><div id="pgc-7915-0-0"  class="panel-grid-cell"  data-weight="1" ><div id="panel-7915-0-0-0" class="so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child" data-index="0" data-style="{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;background_image_size&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;background_image_opacity&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;border_thickness&quot;:&quot;1px&quot;}" ><div
			
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	<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">British prosecutors announced on Monday that they have dropped espionage charges against two British nationals, Christopher Cash, 30, and Christopher Berry, 33, due to insufficient evidence to proceed with the high-profile case. The decision was made just weeks before the men were scheduled to face trial next month for alleged offenses under the Official Secrets Act, which they had consistently denied.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The two men were accused of providing information prejudicial to the state's interests to a Chinese intelligence agent between December 2021 and February 2023. Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Berry, who had worked in various roles in China since 2015, were alleged to have passed politically sensitive information. The case gained significant attention, particularly because Cash had worked for Alicia Kearns, a Conservative lawmaker who previously chaired the Foreign Affairs Committee.</p>
<p dir="ltr">During a hearing at London's Old Bailey Court, prosecutor Tom Little stated that the case no longer met the evidential threshold, saying, "We simply cannot continue to prosecute." The decision drew mixed reactions, with the British Home Office expressing disappointment over the outcome, noting the seriousness of the allegations. The ministry emphasized that the decision was made independently by prosecutors and affirmed its commitment to using all available tools to counter malign activity.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Cash's lawyer, Henry Blaxland, defended his client's innocence, stating that Cash "should never have been arrested, let alone charged." Speaking outside the court, Cash described the past two and a half years as a "nightmare" for himself and his family. He expressed relief at the resolution but called for lessons to be learned from the ordeal.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The men were first arrested in March 2023 and formally charged in April 2024. The case was part of a broader series of allegations in the UK involving suspected espionage on behalf of China. British authorities have previously highlighted concerns about Chinese spies targeting officials in sensitive sectors, including politics, defense, and business, as part of a sophisticated operation to access state secrets.</p>
<p dir="ltr">China has rejected the accusations against Cash and Berry, describing them as fabricated and malicious. The Chinese embassy in London has not yet issued a response to the latest development.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The UK government reiterated its commitment to safeguarding national security, with the Home Office stating, "We will continue to use the full range of tools and powers to guard against malign activity." Despite the case's dismissal, it underscores ongoing tensions and concerns about foreign espionage in the UK.</p>
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