A man suspected of espionage activities for the Hong Kong intelligence services has been found dead in a park, the Thames Valley Police stated recently. The suspect, identified as Matthew Trickett, aged 37, was discovered by officers after a member of the public alerted local police.
According to the Thames Valley Police report, the death is currently being treated as unexplained and an investigation is underway. Trickett, from Maidenhead, was on bail at the time of his death following a recent court appearance where he was charged with aiding the Hong Kong intelligence service. As a condition of bail, he was required to register regularly at a local police station.
The charges against Trickett were levied under the UK’s National Security Act. Trickett, along with two others, was alleged to have conducted unlawful information gathering and performed deceptive acts to assist an intelligence service linked to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government. In response to these accusations, the Chinese Embassy in London discredited the charges as a “malicious fabrication” and “unwarranted.”
Reports of espionage assignments linked to Chinese actors have recently escalated in the UK. Last month, a Parliamentary researcher and associate were arrested due to associated charges. Just last week, an official summons was delivered to the Chinese ambassador by the Foreign Office, following further allegations.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct directed the Thames Valley Police’s Professional Standards Department to investigate Trickett’s death due to the deceased’s regular interaction with police prior to his passing. This investigation comes as part of the larger ongoing efforts to mitigate espionage activities in the region.
More details regarding this situation can be found on the full report here.