Security Committee Finds “Shambolic” Handling of China Spying Case, No Evidence of Political Interference
A parliamentary committee investigating the abandoned prosecution of a suspected Chinese spy has concluded the process was “shambolic” but found no evidence of improper political influence. The committee’s report, stemming from an inquiry in October, centers on why the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) ultimately dropped charges despite initial optimism.
The core issue, according to the committee, was insufficient evidence to meet the CPS’s standards. The report stated the CPS found that “commonsense interpretations” of statements from Matthew Collins, the deputy national security adviser, were “not a sufficiently strong basis” for prosecution.
The inquiry questioned several senior figures, including Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions, Richard Hermer, the attorney general, and Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, regarding potential involvement in the case’s abandonment. concerns were raised about a meeting involving senior officials and Jonathan Powell, Keir Starmer’s national security adviser, held shortly before the charges were dropped. However, the committee steadfast prosecutors had already decided they lacked sufficient evidence more than a week before this meeting.
the report cleared Hermer of any wrongdoing, stating he “acted with constitutional propriety,” though acknowledged he wasn’t proactive in assisting the prosecution. It also dismissed accusations of deliberate obstruction.
A government source responded to the findings,criticizing previous “baseless accusations” from political opponents and attributing the case’s failure to “negligence of national security” that created legal gaps.
While acknowledging shortcomings, the committee cautioned against solely blaming the failure on the outdated Official Secrets Act, a point some ministers had raised. Instead, the report focuses on procedural improvements.
MPs recommended the government reform communication processes between the CPS and othre agencies, and provide better support to deputy national security advisers. Specifically, they urged the Cabinet Office and security services to formalize principles for handling sensitive cases within six months and establish a mandatory “case conference” within 30 days of charges being filed to clarify evidentiary issues.
Both the CPS and a government spokesperson welcomed the report’s findings, reaffirming the independence of prosecutorial decisions and reiterating commitment to national security. The CPS stated it would review the recommendations for potential improvements, while the government expressed disappointment the case did not proceed to trial.
