Man in Swindon charged with assisting Russian intelligence agency

A man has been charged with offences related to national security as part of an ongoing investigation led by counter-terrorism policing (CTP) London, according to the Metropolitan police.Joshua Cammidge, 31, was arrested at an address in Swindon on Friday 4 September by CTP London officers, supported by officers from Wiltshire police. Searches were also carried out at a different address in Swindon. He was further arrested and detained the following day, being charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service and intending to commit or engage in conduct to prepare an act of sabotage.The Met have claimed that Cammidge’s arrests relate to alleged contact with a representative of the GRU Volunteer Corps, a group controlled by Russia’s military intelligence agency that have been accused of previously engaging in acts of sabotage against Britain and its allies.The National Security Act, which Cammidge was arrested and charged under, was introduced in 2023 to help increase the measures that law enforcement can take in order to protect the UK from security threats such as espionage, foreign interference or influence, and sabotage.Frank Ferguson, chief crown prosecutor for the CPS special crime and counter-terrorism division, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute Joshua Cammidge with National Security Act offences following a counter-terrorism policing investigation.“Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.“We remind all concerned that proceedings against the defendant are active and he has the right to a fair trial.“It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings.”Cammidge will appear at Westminster magistrates court on Thursday 10 September.