UK Drops Spying Charges Against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, Sparking "Disappointment" from Government

China Spy Case: Charges Dropped Against Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry

Charges have been dropped against Christopher Cash, 30, and Christopher Berry, 33, two men who were accused of spying for China. The decision by prosecutors has sparked a strong reaction from within the UK government. Both men had denied the charges under the Official Secrets Act, and Beijing has dismissed the allegations as "malicious slander".

The Allegations and Legal Proceedings

Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry, a teacher, were accused of gathering and providing information prejudicial to the safety and interests of the state between December 28, 2021, and February 3, 2023. They were arrested in March 2023 as part of a counter-terror police investigation. The prosecution claimed they collected information that was "calculated to be, might be, or were intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy."

Following the decision to cease legal proceedings, Mr. Cash stated outside the Old Bailey that he was "relieved that justice has been served". He described the past two years as a "nightmare" and expressed hope that "lessons are learned from this sorry episode". Prosecutor Tom Little informed the court that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) determined the evidence did not meet the threshold to proceed to trial, stating "we simply cannot continue to prosecute this case". The pair were scheduled to appear at Woolwich Crown Court from October 6.

Government Response

The Home Office expressed its disappointment that the two men would not face trial, given the "seriousness of the allegations". They stated, "We will continue to use the full range of tools and powers to guard against malign activity." This sentiment was echoed by Downing Street, with the Prime Minister's official spokesman calling the allegations "gravely concerning" and "extremely disappointing". The spokesman emphasized that "Any attempt by a foreign power to infiltrate our Parliament or democracy is unacceptable."

Context and Wider Implications

It had been reported that Christopher Cash was involved with Parliament's China Research Group (CRG). He was understood to have had access to several Conservative MPs, reportedly including former security minister Tom Tugendhat and then-foreign affairs committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns.