Charges under the National Security Act
Police have charged a Royal Navy member with espionage. Teddy Young, aged 24, faces allegations of acquiring protected information that might serve an unidentified foreign state. Officers detained him at his Bedfordshire residence on 6 October as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing London inquiry. On Thursday the Metropolitan police announced that he now faces multiple charges brought under the National Security Act.[S1][S2]
The Crown Prosecution Service gave the go-ahead for the charges on Wednesday. Prosecutors claim that from 26 November 2024 until 21 May 2025, Young carried out conduct preparing to commit an offence of disclosing protected information. They further allege that during that same window he acquired, duplicated, documented or kept protected information with the intention that it would assist a foreign power. According to the charges, he either knew or should reasonably have recognised that such conduct harmed UK safety or interests.[S1][S2]
Investigation and custody
Cmdr Helen Flanagan, who leads Counter Terrorism Policing London, called the allegations extremely grave given that the accused serves in the armed forces. She stated that her unit collaborated very closely with operational counterparts at the Ministry of Defence throughout the inquiry so that suitable steps could be taken to reduce any possible risks arising from the case. Young has been held in custody and is scheduled to appear at Westminster magistrates' court on Thursday.[S1][S2]
According to police, neither the detention nor the charges relate to the ongoing inquiry into what happened at RAF Fairford. That matter, involving suspicious activity close to the base, has led to several arrests and remains under investigation by counter-terror officers, with a seventh man detained on Tuesday in connection with it. A Royal Navy representative confirmed that a serving member had been charged under the National Security Act after the Counter Terrorism Policing London investigation, and said that because proceedings continue it would not be appropriate to say more at this point.[S1][S2]
