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10.96
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Impact LevelMedium
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Scope LevelNational
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Last Update2025-09-17
Key Impacts
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Event Overview
The decision to drop a spying case raises questions about potential political influence and the handling of national security matters. It highlights the complex interplay between legal processes and governmental oversight.
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UK Drops Case Against Two Men Accused of Spying for China
The UK has dropped its case against two men, Christopher Cash (30) and Christopher Berry (33), who were accused of spying for China under the Official Secrets Act. The men were initially arrested in March 2023 by counterterror police and were accused of gathering information that could harm the state's safety and interests between December 28, 2021, and February 3, 2023. The Crown Prosecution Service determined that the gathered evidence did not meet the threshold for trial. The decision to drop the charges has sparked a strong backlash from top UK government officials, with some MPs questioning whether the government influenced the decision. Beijing had dismissed the allegations as 'malicious slander.'