Man charged under the National Security Act with assisting Russian intelligence services

The offences, assisting a foreign intelligence service and preparatory conduct, are connected to his alleged communication with a representative of the GRU Volunteer Corps, an organisation under the control of Russia's military intelligence service.

Officers from CTP London, with assistance from Wiltshire Police, detained Cammidge at a Swindon address on Friday.

They then transported him to a police station in the capital while investigators searched a separate property in Swindon.

The following day, on September 5, he was arrested for a second time and held under the National Security Act on suspicion of providing assistance to a foreign intelligence service.

The Crown Prosecution Service subsequently authorised both charges.

The first was under section 3 of the Act, relating to assisting a foreign intelligence service, and the other under section 18, covering preparatory conduct.

Cammidge, who holds British nationality, was born on January 13, 1995.

Frank Ferguson, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute Joshua Cammidge with National Security Act offences following a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation.

"Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

"We remind all concerned that proceedings against the defendant are active and he has the right to a fair trial.

They added: "It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings."

Cammidge is scheduled to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court tomorrow.

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