Chinese cameras could be spying on British police through the UK’s own drones, helicopters, and body cams, official watchdog warns
The Office of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner said it surveyed 35 police force areas in England and Wales, as well as the Ministry of Defence and other British agencies about their use of surveillance systems.
Chief officers of these agencies were sent the survey in June 2022, it said in a Monday report.
At least 24 of these departments said they used internal camera systems flagged by the report as having “security or ethical concerns” because they were at least partially manufactured by Chinese companies.
Eighteen departments also use external camera systems with similar issues, the report said.
And 23 of the responding forces that use camera-equipped drones said they were aware of security concerns about their drone manufacturer — a Chinese company called DJI. The firm has been blacklisted by the US over concerns that Beijing could requisition information from the company under its intelligence laws.
“It is abundantly clear from this detailed analysis of the survey results that the police estate in the UK is shot through with Chinese surveillance cameras,” said commissioner Fraser Sampson. “It is also clear that the forces deploying this equipment are generally aware that there are security and ethical concerns about the companies that supply their kit.”
Sampson said the police needs to persuade the public that their surveillance systems can be trusted, and that the tech will be used lawfully and responsibly.
Several government bodies failed to respond to the 2022 survey, though they responded to similar surveys in previous years, Sampson said. They include the National Crime Agency and the City of London Police.
Sensitivity over Chinese spy threats has burgeoned in the past two weeks, after the US downed a Chinese balloon that it said was spying over North America. Washington has since shot down another three objects, though it has not said if they are linked to China.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Sunday that the UK’s fighter jets are on standby to deal with similar surveillance threats.
But Sampson said the UK should be more worried about the camera systems on the ground instead of spy balloons. “I do not understand why we are not at least as concerned about the Chinese cameras 6 feet above our head in the street and elsewhere,” he said.
The report also comes after the UK government banned Chinese-made CCTVs from sensitive premises in November.
A spokesperson for the UK government told Insider the security of public institutions and systems is of “vital importance” and that they are protected by a “range of measures.”
The spokesperson said the UK also has a National Cyber Security Center to help police assess their supply chains for cybersecurity.
“We are committed to promoting the ethical development and deployment of technology in the UK and overseas,” the spokesperson added. “We are aware of a number of Chinese technology companies linked to violations taking place in Xinjiang and are monitoring the situation closely.”
The Office of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner told Insider it had nothing further to add.
The National Crime Agency, City of London Police, DJI and the Chinese embassy in London did not immediately respond to Insider’s requests for comment.
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