UK police have set up a new unit to combat spy threats allegedly posed by states including China, Russia and Iran

In response to heightened intelligence indicating potential espionage threats from China, Russia, and Iran, UK authorities have initiated a dedicated unit to counteract these risks, particularly in anticipation of the upcoming general election slated for the second half of this year. Addressing the media on Friday, Matt Jukes, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, emphasised the severity of the threat, asserting that it is currently at its peak since the Cold War era. Jukes specifically pointed to elements within the state apparatuses of Iran, China, and Russia. Last year, the UK enacted the National Security Act, an initiative aimed at equipping security services with enhanced capabilities to confront state-sponsored sabotage. This legislation modernised London’s espionage laws, originally crafted during World War I in response to German espionage threats. Utilising the powers granted by the National Security Act, the newly established counter-espionage unit intends to become the most overt component of the UK security community, intensifying its response to hostile state actions, according to Jukes. Highlighting the concerning surge in online misinformation, Jukes revealed that the scale surpasses that of any previous election year in the UK. He expressed apprehension about plots targeting political figures, citing over 15 direct threats associated with the Iranian state in the past two years. Jukes substantiated the urgency of the situation, cautioning that indicators point in an unfavorable direction. In a recent case, an Austrian citizen of Chechen origin, Magomed-Husejn Dovtaev, received a three-and-a-half-year jail term for engaging in “hostile reconnaissance” of an Iranian media company in London. Authorities discovered evidence on his phone indicating he had been documenting the building’s security arrangements. During Dovtaev’s trial, it was revealed that the targeted TV station had criticized the Iranian government for human rights violations. Dovtaev, however, claimed innocence, asserting that he was framed by an unknown contact and had an affinity for the building’s architecture. With the UK’s next general election looming later this year and mandated to occur before January 28, 2025, the establishment of this specialized unit underscores the nation’s commitment to safeguarding its democratic processes. (with inputs from Reuters)