Britain says China has closed unofficial police stations in U.K.
The Hindu
The British government has said it was aware of about 100 such stations around the world
British Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said on June 6 China had closed reported "police service stations" at sites across the U.K., and that an investigation had not revealed any illegal activity by the Chinese state at these sites.
Britain has previously said reports of undeclared police stations in the country were "extremely concerning" and that any intimidation on British soil of foreign nationals by China or other states was unacceptable.
Also read: Explained | China’s ‘secret’ police stations abroad
British police have investigated claims made by the non-governmental human rights organisation 'Safeguard Defenders' that such police stations were operating at three British sites, Tugendhat said in a written statement to parliament.
"I can confirm that they have not, to date, identified any evidence of illegal activity on behalf of the Chinese state across these sites," he said.
"We assess that police and public scrutiny have had a suppressive impact on any administrative functions these sites may have had."
U.S. federal agents arrested two New York residents in April for allegedly operating a Chinese "secret police station" in the Chinatown district of Manhattan. China had said it firmly opposed what it called "the US's slanders and smears."