New legislation has been introduced to parliament with new powers to crack down on individuals, organisations and proxy groups working on behalf of hostile foreign states.
The National Security (State Threats) Bill will give the Home Secretary new counter terrorism-style powers to fight foreign state organisations and state-linked groups that threaten the UK’s national security.
If approved by parliament, the law is expected to come into force as early as next month and the Home Secretary will be able to use the powers immediately.
The powers are designed to stop foreign states carrying out hostile activity in the UK – such as criminal damage against Jewish communities and targeting dissidents on UK soil. Police and intelligence agencies will get stronger tools and powers to disrupt and deter those who work on behalf of hostile states.
A new criminal offence will apply to anyone who expresses support for a designated organisation. It will also be an offence to assist or receive payment from a designated organisation. This is designed to crack down on foreign states hiding their involvement in hostile activity by outsourcing it to proxy groups, such as organised crime groups.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "The recent wave of antisemitic attacks has shocked the nation and left British Jews feeling unsafe in their own communities. That cannot stand.
"Where foreign states are found to be engaging in activity that threatens lives or undermines our democratic institutions, we must ensure that such actions have consequences.
"We will not tolerate hostile actors paying petty criminals to do their dirty work."
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: "Foreign states are becoming ever more aggressive – attacking our communities, our way of life, and our institutions – and hiding their tracks behind proxies. We must adapt to keep pace.
"Our world-leading police and intelligence agencies do remarkable work every day to keep this country safe, and they will always have the government’s fullest support. That is why we are equipping them with stronger tools to take down these evolving threats wherever they occur.
"These new powers should send a clear message to anyone doing the dirty work of a foreign state – we will come after you and you will face the full force of the law."
