𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Petty criminals “doing the dirty work” for foreign spies face up to 14 years behind bars, as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will finally be treated like a terrorist organisation. The IRGC is expected to be among as many as 10 groups proscribed as a “state-based threat” over the next year.

This will give counter-terrorism police and MI5 powers to arrest their foot-soldiers operating in the UK, freeze assets, allow the Home Secretary to cancel visas of foreign nationals linked to the IRGC and force social media companies to take down their propaganda. And the Home Office has confirmed petty criminals will be arrested if they receive payment from a designated organisation.

It comes after a spate of arson attacks, kidnap conspiracies and assassination attempts linked to the IRGC and Russian intelligence services.

Iran is feared to have ordered a series of firebomb attacks on synagogues, Jewish community ambulances and targeted journalists. Enemy intelligence agencies are offering criminals money to give them “plausible” deniability, security chiefs believe.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “Foreign states are becoming ever more aggressive – attacking our communities, our way of life, and our institutions – and hiding their tracks behind proxies. We must adapt to keep pace.

“Our world-leading police and intelligence agencies do remarkable work every day to keep this country safe, and they will always have the government’s fullest support. That is why we are equipping them with stronger tools to take down these evolving threats wherever they occur.

“These new powers should send a clear message to anyone doing the dirty work of a foreign state – we will come after you and you will face the full force of the law.”

Security chiefs believe threatening criminals with 14 years behind bars if they work for a foreign intelligence agency will deter others in the future. The penalties will be harsher than if they carried out the same act without first receiving orders from spies.

And officials are planning to talk to offenders in prisons warning against Moscow, Tehran and Beijing’s promises of cash and protection.

Officials accept they have to get “creative” to prevent criminals being targeted over apps like Telegram. This will result in overt and covert messaging campaigns, it is understood.

The IRGC is likely to be amongst the first groups proscribed under the new powers. An Islamist group suspected of having Iranian links – Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia – has also claimed responsibility for a series of arson attacks in North London.

And sources believe “front companies” which provide support for foreign intelligence agencies operating in the UK could also be targeted.

Organised crime groups could also be branded “state-based” threats. This means they will be treated like intelligence agencies like Russia’s GRU.

Zealots who express support for the groups could also be arrested, in a similar way to those who support ISIS or Al-Qaeda.

The new powers are expected to come into force next month.

Home Secretary Ms Mahmood could then use the powers immediately, it is understood. Officials believe criminals will be put off from working for foreign intelligence agencies if they face much longer prison sentences.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The recent wave of antisemitic attacks has shocked the nation and left British Jews feeling unsafe in their own communities. That cannot stand.

“Where foreign states are found to be engaging in activity that threatens lives or undermines our democratic institutions, we must ensure that such actions have consequences.

“We will not tolerate hostile actors paying petty criminals to do their dirty work.”