Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to progress closer working between MI5 and police regional Counter- Terrorism Units on countering Hostile State Activity, as recommended by the Intelligence and Security Committee’s report on Russia published on 21 July 2020.

The Government agrees with the Intelligence and Security Committee on the benefits of close working arrangements between law enforcement and the security and intelligence services.

As noted in the Government’s response to the ISC’s report, MI5 has already developed closer working with Police and Home Office partners in tackling the threat posed by State Threats, including working together closely on a number of State Threats cases. The Salisbury response and investigations in 2018 were led by Counter Terrorism Policing, drawing on its expertise in investigating matters which pertain to national security. The Agencies continue to collaborate closely and productively with Police on all relevant State Threats cases.