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The man is scheduled to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court tomorrow

A British man has been charged under the National Security Act with assisting Russian intelligence services.

Joshua Cammidge, a 31-year-old from Swindon, faces two charges following an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing London.

The offences, assisting a foreign intelligence service and preparatory conduct, are connected to his alleged communication with a representative of the GRU Volunteer Corps, an organisation under the control of Russia's military intelligence service.

Officers from CTP London, with assistance from Wiltshire Police, detained Mr Cammidge at a Swindon address on Friday.

They then transported him to a police station in the capital while investigators searched a separate property in Swindon.

The following day, on September 5, he was arrested for a second time and held under the National Security Act on suspicion of providing assistance to a foreign intelligence service.

The Crown Prosecution Service subsequently authorised both charges.

The first was under section 3 of the Act, relating to assisting a foreign intelligence service, and the other under section 18, covering preparatory conduct.

Mr Cammidge, who holds British nationality, was born on January 13, 1995.

Frank Ferguson, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute Joshua Cammidge with National Security Act offences following a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation.

"Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

"We remind all concerned that proceedings against the defendant are active and he has the right to a fair trial.

They added: "It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings."

Mr Cammidge is scheduled to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court tomorrow.

Relations ⁠between Britain and Russia have deteriorated sharply since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

British authorities have increasingly warned about alleged Russian espionage, sabotage and other hostile state activity.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: "The police have taken action against a potential threat, and I thank them for the vital work they do every day to keep us safe.

"Whilst it would be inappropriate to comment further on the specifics of this case, I know people will be concerned about recent incidents across Europe, intended to sow fear, create disruption and undermine support for Ukraine. They will not succeed.

"We’ll continue to take whatever action is necessary to defend against the range of threats we face from Russia.

"Anyone attempting to undermine our security will feel the full force of the law."