Two Men Charged Over Spying for China
Christopher Berry, 32, from Witney, Oxfordshire, and Christopher Cash, 29, from Whitechapel, London, have been charged under the Official Secrets Act 1911. Authorities accuse them of obtaining and sharing sensitive information useful to an enemy state — in this case, China.
Details of the Charges
- Berry’s offences span from 28 December 2021 to 3 February 2023.
- Cash’s charges relate to activity from 20 January 2022 to 3 February 2023.
Both men are accused of collecting, recording, publishing, or communicating articles and information prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK.
Next Steps in Court
The pair were charged on Monday 22 April and have been bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday 26 April 2024.
Police Comment on Serious Spy Probe
Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This has been an extremely complex investigation into what are very serious allegations. We’ve worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service as our investigation progressed, which has led to these charges.
“Given the public and media interest, we ask everyone to avoid comment or speculation to allow the criminal justice process to take its course.”
Background: Arrests and Investigation
Officers initially arrested two men on 13 March 2023 — one in Oxfordshire and another in Edinburgh. Both were released on police bail while the investigation continued. The case was passed to the CPS in late 2023, and the Attorney General authorised charges on 3 April 2024.
