A hidden camera has been discovered concealed in a ceiling panel inside a government building in Westminster, prompting security services to be notified. The electronic device was found in a complex shared by the Home Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), according to a report by The i Paper.
Discovery Details
The device was discovered within the last two months in a communal area of the building, rather than in ministerial offices. The Marsham Street complex serves as the base for the Home Office, which oversees policing and national security, and the MHCLG, which recently made decisions regarding planning permission for the new Chinese embassy in London.
Security Response
There is no suggestion that Russian or Chinese agents are responsible for the device, the report stated. An MHCLG spokesperson declined to comment, saying: “We do not comment on security matters.”
Political Reaction
Shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart called for an urgent investigation, stating: “This is a serious incident that demands an urgent investigation. The discovery of a hidden camera inside a building that occupies the Home Office and other departments raises questions about the security of government departments and those seeking to undermine them.” He added: “We urgently need to know who was responsible, how long this device was in place and whether any sensitive or classified information has been compromised.”
