"The two men were accused of gathering and providing information prejudicial to the safety and interests of the state between 28 December 2021 and 3 February 2023. But on Monday at the Old Bailey, the court heard that the CPS had determined the evidence it had gathered did not meet the threshold to go to trial. The pair were due to appear at Woolwich Crown Court from 6 October."
"Mr Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions (DPP), said the independence of his team was "completely respected within Whitehall and government" and he could give his "own assurance" that there had been no outside pressure. Parkinson's comments came in a letter to shadow home secretary Chris Philp who had asked whether the CPS had been "politically pressured directly or indirectly by any representative of the government". Parkinson indicated that one factor in securing a conviction would have entailed proving that China was an "enemy" as stated in the Official Secrets Act 1911."
England and Wales's Crown Prosecution Service dropped charges against Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry, a teacher, accused of spying for China. The men were alleged to have gathered and provided information prejudicial to state safety and interests between 28 December 2021 and 3 February 2023. The CPS concluded the evidence did not meet the threshold to go to trial and found no suitable alternative offences. Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson asserted the CPS faced no outside pressure. The decision prompted fury from the UK government, opposition parties and Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, and Beijing called the claims "malicious slander".
Read at www.bbc.com
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