Hidden camera found in London government building

A hidden camera has been discovered in a ceiling panel within a major government building in London, raising serious security concerns. The device was found in a communal area of the Marsham Street complex, which houses the Home Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The discovery was made within the last two months, and the Security Services have been informed.

The incident has sparked espionage fears due to the building's recent involvement in the highly controversial planning application for a new, large-scale Chinese embassy in London. Officials in the Marsham Street offices worked on the application, which was approved by Housing Secretary Steve Reed in January. The approval was widely criticized by opposition parties and security experts who warned the embassy site, located near critical fiber-optic cables in the City of London, could be used for espionage.

According to reports, the camera was found in a shared space used by multiple civil servants and was not located in or near ministerial offices. It remains unclear who placed the device, how long it was there, or whether any sensitive information was compromised. There is no...