A UK government contractor has been arrested by counter-terrorism police on suspicion of spying against the state.

The 65-year-old woman was detained at an address in north London on suspicion of an offence under section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911, Scotland Yard said, which relates to spying.

It is understood the arrest, though made by Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command, was not related to terrorism but in connection with alleged state spying.



She has been taken into custody at a police station in the south of the capital.



Police said the suspect was “contracted to carry out work for a government department” and was held on Wednesday by the Met’s counter-terrorism command acting upon intelligence received.





Section 1 of the 1911 act is headed “Penalties for spying” and covers activities that amount to an offence if they are carried out “for any purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State”.



Officers were carrying out a search at a property in north London as part of the investigation.



• This article was amended on 28 September 2017. An earlier version referred to the provisions of the Official Secrets Act 1989. The legislation in question is the Official Secrets Act 1911.

