A 31-year-old British man has been charged under the National Security Act with assisting Russian intelligence services following an investigation by counter-terrorism officers.

Joshua Cammidge, from Swindon, faces two separate offences: assisting a foreign intelligence service under section 3 of the Act, and preparatory conduct under section 18. Both charges were authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service after a multi-agency police operation.

The allegations focus on his alleged contact with Moscow's spy apparatus. Investigators state that the offences are connected to communication with a representative of the GRU Volunteer Corps, an organisation controlled directly by Russia's military intelligence service.

The operation to detain him began on Friday, when officers from Counter Terrorism Policing London, working alongside Wiltshire Police, detained Mr Cammidge at an address in Swindon.

He was then transported to a police station in the capital for questioning, while specialist officers carried out a search at a separate property in Swindon. The following day, on 5 September, Mr Cammidge was arrested for a second time under the National Security Act on suspicion of providing assistance to a foreign intelligence service.

Frank Ferguson, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, confirmed the decision to bring formal charges. He explained that prosecutors worked carefully to establish that there was sufficient evidence to place the matter before a court and that proceeding was firmly in the public interest.

With the case now entering the legal system, the CPS issued a clear warning about the strict rules governing active court proceedings. Mr Ferguson reminded the public that the defendant has the right to a fair trial, while the CPS added that there must be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online that could in any way prejudice the case.

The charges come amid heightened vigilance across Whitehall. Security Minister Dan Jarvis thanked the police for taking action against what he termed a potential threat, pointing to widespread concerns over recent incidents across Europe intended to sow fear, create disruption and undermine international support for Ukraine.

Relations between Britain and Russia have deteriorated sharply since Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022. In the months since, British authorities have issued repeated public warnings regarding alleged Russian espionage, sabotage and wider hostile state activity taking place on European soil.

What we do not know yet are the specific details of the alleged communications, or the precise nature of the preparatory conduct outlined in the charges. Because legal proceedings are now active, those factual details will only be disclosed and tested as evidence is formally presented in court.

Mr Cammidge, a British national who was born on 13 January 1995, is scheduled to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court tomorrow. I'll be following this one closely as the legal process gets underway — check back for updates as soon as we learn more.