Foreign-State Intimidation on UK Soil: Parliament Warns of Rising Threat from Transnational Repression

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A UK parliamentary committee has warned that Transnational Repression (TNR), defined as efforts by foreign governments to harass, intimidate, or harm individuals beyond their borders, represents an escalating threat to civil liberties and national security within the United Kingdom. The report, released this week, identifies countries including Russia, China, Iran, and India as either engaging in or being accused of such activities on British soil.

The committee’s findings highlight a 48% increase in state-related threat investigations by the Security Service (MI5) and more than 20 threat-to-life cases linked to Iran since 2022. TNR tactics range from digital surveillance and disinformation to legal intimidation and physical violence. In some cases, these actions are believed to be coordinated directly by foreign intelligence agencies targeting political dissidents, journalists, and minority communities.

Specific examples cited include China’s use of surveillance, harassment, and financial incentives such as the HK$1 million (£100,000) bounty placed on activist Chloe Cheun, alongside reports of unofficial “police stations” allegedly operating within the UK to monitor overseas Chinese citizens. 

Russia, meanwhile, has employed INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organisation) Red Notices and strategic litigation to pursue critics abroad, as well as more direct attacks, notably the 2018 Salisbury poisoning. Iran has reportedly sought to kidnap or assassinate dissidents, often using cultural organisations as cover for intelligence-gathering.

India was referenced in recent high-profile allegations by Canada and the United States. These include accusations of state involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, and an alleged plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh activist in New York. On 1 August, India’s Ministry of External Affairs rejected the UK report as “baseless” and “biased”, claiming it relied on “unverified sources”.

Beyond individual cases, the report points to a wider “chilling effect” across affected communities. Victims reportedly live under constant fear and suspicion, which undermines free expression and deters political participation. This self-censorship, the committee notes, often achieves the repressive aims of hostile states without overt violence.

The report also criticises the abuse of INTERPOL mechanisms by authoritarian regimes and calls for the UK to introduce safeguards against politically motivated Red Notices. Among its recommendations is stronger alerting systems for individuals subject to such actions.

Domestically, the UK has taken steps to address TNR through the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), enacted under the National Security Act 2023. The scheme requires individuals and organisations conducting political activity on behalf of a foreign power to register with the government, with penalties of up to five years in prison for non-compliance. However, the omission of China from FIRS’s enhanced scrutiny list has drawn criticism, with some viewing it as a sign of diplomatic caution.

The committee further calls for coordinated international efforts to counter TNR. It recommends that the UK elevate the issue at the United Nations (UN) and continue supporting initiatives such as the G7’s 2024 Leaders’ Statement and the proposed Digital TNR Detection Academy, aimed at enhancing global intelligence-sharing and response.

While the report identifies Russia, China, and Iran as the most consistent perpetrators of TNR against UK-based individuals, the allegations concerning India remain subject to diplomatic dispute and lack conclusive evidence. Nonetheless, the committee underscores the importance of addressing all credible threats regardless of origin.

The report concludes that TNR undermines British sovereignty and individual freedoms.