China accused of intimidating Chinese communities in UK with secret police stations
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China has been accused of “unacceptable intimidation” of Chinese communities in Britain by the Government after setting up secret overseas police stations in the UK to monitor them.
Tom Tugendhat, the security minister, told MPs that the Chinese had shut down the stations after police were sent to investigate their operations. The Foreign Office has told the Chinese embassy that any further stations will be banned.
“Let me be clear, any attempt by any foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK will not be tolerated. This is an insidious threat to our democracy and fundamental human rights,” he said.
The unofficial police stations in Croydon, Glasgow, Hendon, north London, and Belfast are alleged to have been set up to hunt down and blackmail Chinese citizens to force them to return home.
They were established as part of a network of 54 “overseas police service centres” around the world in the last few years, according to researchers from Safeguard Defenders, a non-profit organisation, as Beijing seeks to expand Chinese powers abroad.
‘Police stations’ established without permission
China claims the “police service stations” were set up to “conduct administrative tasks” to support Chinese nationals abroad.
However, in his statement to MPs, Mr Tugendhat said reports suggested they were also used to “monitor and harass diaspora communities and, in some cases, to coerce people to return to China outside of legitimate channels”.
He added: “These ‘police service stations’ were established without our permission and their presence, regardless of whatever low level administrative activity they were performing, will have worried and intimidated those who have left China and sought safety and freedom here in the UK. This is unacceptable.
“The Chinese authorities regularly criticise others for what they see as interference in their internal affairs. Yet, they felt able to open unattributed sites without consulting the UK Government. It is alleged that this was a pattern repeated around the world.”
All stations ‘closed permanently’
The Foreign Office issued a diplomatic protest to the Chinese over the police stations, saying they were unacceptable and must not operate in any form.
“The Chinese Embassy has subsequently responded that all such stations have closed permanently. Any further allegations will be swiftly investigated in line with UK law,” said Mr Tugendhat.
The stations appeared to have closed by the time police officers arrived to investigate them. “We assess that police and public scrutiny have had a suppressive impact on any administrative functions these sites may have had,” said Mr Tugendhat.
The police stations are operated by Chinese community associations in various countries, according to Safeguard Defenders.
They are often run from innocuous locations – such as Chinese restaurants or convenience stores, or the offices of business associations.
One of the two police “service” stations in London is registered as an estate agency. Another one based in Glasgow is a Chinese restaurant.
The Telegraph visited the estate agency in north London, which denied any links. But they said the office is also used by a legal firm. Its website says it deals predominantly with Chinese immigration issues.
Another food delivery office in Croydon said to be part of the network also denied links when visited by a reporter.
Chinese firms could be barred from public contracts
Some Chinese firms faced being barred from public contracts under new powers to tackle suppliers who pose a national security risk.
An amendment to the Procurement Bill, which is going through Parliament, would allow bidders to be blocked from sensitive sectors, such as defence, if they are deemed to be hostile to the UK.
A second amendment tabled by the Government would establish a specialist unit to recommend which companies should be excluded.
