Scotland Yard has apologised for refusing to investigate Chinese officials accused of spying on demonstrators outside Beijing‘s mega-embassy in London.
In a major embarrassment, the Metropolitan Police yesterday said sorry to Hongkonger Alan Dai for not investigating his complaint that suspected Chinese agents photographed him during a protest last February against plans to build Europe’s biggest embassy on the old Royal Mint site.
The force admitted it was wrong to tell Mr Dai the alleged surveillance was not a police matter – despite a national security law making it an offence to assist a foreign intelligence service.
Officers even advised him to contact Hong Kong‘s embassy, effectively part of the Chinese state.
After meeting the Met yesterday, Mr Dai said: ‘The police apologised and said they should do better.’
But he added: ‘Us Hongkongers fled to the UK hoping to lead a dignified life in freedom because of our belief in the UK.
‘We are fearful of the tsunami of interference and intimidation about to be unleashed upon the Hongkongers and British alike.’
China is reportedly planning to build a secret underground room that could be used to spy on the UK at the site of its controversial ‘super embassy’ in London. Pictured: Concept plans for the embassy which will be located on the former Royal Mint site
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, co-chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, and former Tory leader, said: ‘The fact that police thought it appropriate to send a victim to report their crime to the perpetrator shows how ill-prepared we are to deal with this major security threat.
Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor conceded failures, writing to former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith: ‘It is clear that the advice given to Mr Dai was not appropriate.’
Sir Iain, co-chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said: ‘The fact that police thought it appropriate to send a victim to report their crime to the perpetrator shows how ill-prepared we are to deal with this major security threat.
‘The Government is on the verge of allowing a colossal spy base in the heart of London.’
A Met spokesman said the case has been referred to Counter Terrorism Policing for assessment.
