Man charged with helping Russian intelligence in UK

A man has been charged with assisting Russian intelligence after being arrested by UK counter-terror police.

Howard Michael Phillips, 64, from Harlow in Essex, was arrested in central London and is due at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday afternoon.

Investigators have also searched addresses in Hertfordshire and Essex.

There is not believed to be any threat to the wider public, the Metropolitan Police have said.

Mr Phillips was arrested under new National Security Act powers, which mean people can be detained without a warrant if police “reasonably” suspect they are involved “in foreign power threat activity”.

Police have not disclosed details about the activities he is alleged to have engaged in.

The charge covers actions which “materially assist a foreign intelligence service in carrying out UK-related activities”.

The Met confirmed this latest arrest was “not connected to any other recent charges or investigations linked to [National Security Act] offences”.