Hidden Camera Discovered in Communal Area of Marsham Street Government Building
A surveillance device was discovered behind a ceiling panel in the shared Westminster building housing the Home Office and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Security services were notified after the find, which occurred within the last two months.
BBC NewsA hidden camera was discovered in the communal area of the Marsham Street government complex in Westminster. The electronic device was found behind a ceiling panel, according to the i newspaper, which first reported the discovery. Security services have been informed.
The complex houses both the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Home Office. Home Office sources said the device was located in MHCLG's part of the building, away from ministerial offices. The find occurred within the last two months.
An MHCLG spokesperson said the department does not comment on security matters. The Home Office declined to comment on the incident. The prime minister's spokesman also declined to comment and referred reporters to the MHCLG statement.
Tory shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart called the discovery a serious incident that demands an urgent investigation. He said the presence of a hidden camera inside a building that houses the Home Office and other departments raises questions about the security of government departments and those seeking to undermine them.
Burghart added that the public deserves answers and that authorities need to determine who was responsible, how long the device was in place, and whether any sensitive or classified information has been compromised.
The Home Office is responsible for policing in England and Wales and national security. MHCLG is responsible for housing and planning policy in England.
