Howard Michael Phillips, a 64-year-old man from Harlow in Essex, has been charged with assisting Russian intelligence. He was arrested by UK counter-terrorism police in central London on May 16, 2024. The charge, issued under the National Security Act, specifically pertains to actions that materially assist a foreign intelligence service in carrying out activities related to the UK.
Phillips is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on the afternoon of May 23, 2024. The Metropolitan Police, spearheading the investigation, have also conducted searches at addresses in Hertfordshire and Essex. No threat to the wider public has been reported in connection with this case. This arrest is not linked to any other recent investigations or charges under the National Security Act.