Britain will be better protected from foreign state-backed activity in a new crackdown on Iranian and Russian groups who seek to direct violence and intimidation on our streets.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right (IMCR) and Russia’s GRU Volunteer Corps will become the first bodies designated under landmark new state threats powers. If approved by Parliament later this week, those conducting acts of sabotage including arson on behalf of these groups could face life imprisonment.
The move will step up the government’s ability to counter state threats linked to foreign powers including espionage, foreign interference in our democracy, sabotage and physical attacks.
It comes after the IMCR have publicly claimed 7 attacks at UK locations linked to Jewish and Israeli communities, and Persian-language media, including the antisemitic arson attack on 4 Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green on 23 March. Sitting behind IMCR were members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force, who almost certainly directed IMCR attacks across Europe.
Police and intelligence agencies will now have stronger powers to counter state threats activity carried out by these designated groups. New offences for supporting and assisting these groups could result in a 14-year prison sentence, News Cover reports, citing the UK government's official website.
It will now be easier to bring anyone caught working with them to justice and put them behind bars for longer. Prosecutors will no longer need to establish a foreign power connection in every case, making it easier and more straightforward to build cases against thugs for hire and ensure they face the full force of our national security laws, with sentences of up to life imprisonment.
