Key facts
- A new UK law targeting proxies of hostile states will come into force next month.
- The legislation aims to counter state-linked organizations using organized crime groups for surveillance and sabotage.
- Recent attacks on Jewish sites and espionage activities linked to Iran, Russia, and China spurred the new powers.
- Supporting designated proxies or taking money from them will become illegal, punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment.
Britain is set to implement a new law next month designed to crack down on proxies acting on behalf of states deemed hostile, such as Iran. This move aims to bolster powers against what the UK describes as a growing threat from such groups.
The legislation addresses a gap in current laws, enabling authorities to target state-linked organizations that employ organized crime groups or individuals to conduct surveillance, sabotage, or other illicit activities within the UK. The government's decision follows a series of antisemitic attacks in London and other incidents allegedly linked to foreign states.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the government's commitment to holding hostile actors accountable for actions that threaten lives or democratic institutions. Recent months have seen arson attacks on Jewish sites with suspected Iranian connections, and convictions for individuals accused of spying for Russian and Chinese entities.
Britain's domestic intelligence agency, MI5, has reported a significant increase in state-threat investigations, noting a 35% rise last year, which included approximately 20 potentially lethal plots linked to Iran. Britain has publicly accused China and Russia, in addition to Iran, of utilizing proxy networks, though these nations have denied the allegations.
The new law will make it illegal to express support for designated proxies or to accept financial support from them, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 14 years. The government anticipates designating around 10 or fewer proxies in the first year after the law takes effect.