Royal Navy sailor charged under National Security Act

Police have charged a Royal Navy sailor under the National Security Act, accusing him of collecting protected information to help an unnamed foreign power.

Teddy Young, a 24-year-old able seaman from Bedfordshire, faces two counts, Counter Terrorism Policing London said. His first court appearance, at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, takes place on Thursday, and he stays in custody until then. No court has yet tested the allegations.

Detectives detained Young on Tuesday at the Bedfordshire house where he lives, before moving him to custody in London. The charges followed on Wednesday.

What the Royal Navy sailor faces

Both counts cover the months from late November 2024 to late May 2025. The first accuses Young of taking steps toward revealing protected information, an offence under section 18 of the 2023 law.

The second count falls under section 1. It alleges that he gathered or kept restricted material, intending it to serve a foreign state. According to the charge, he knew or should have known that his actions threatened British safety or interests.

Under that section, protected information means documents, information or other material with restricted access meant to keep the country safe. The definition also goes well beyond digital files.

Notably, prosecutors have not charged him with handing anything over to another country. Police have also not said which nation the case concerns or what the material contained. One British newspaper reported that the country is Russia, citing its own sources, but the authorities have not confirmed this.

Reports say this is not his first arrest. Police first held him on 21 May 2025, in Hampshire, before releasing him on bail. The navy then suspended his security clearance and took him off his duties, according to those reports. He reportedly served in the intelligence branch as an able seaman, the lowest rank in the service. In the Royal Navy, able seamen typically handle navigation, maintenance and safety work on deck. Insiders told one newspaper that he had effectively been on gardening leave since his first arrest, unable to see sensitive material.

Police urge restraint

Commander Helen Flanagan, who leads Counter Terrorism Policing London, stressed the gravity of the case. “These are very serious charges against a serving member of the armed forces,” she said.

Detectives, she added, cooperated closely with the Ministry of Defence throughout the inquiry to limit any possible risks. She also urged people not to speculate about the case, so that the court process can run its course.

The navy confirmed that one of its members now faces charges. However, its spokesperson said it would be wrong to say more while proceedings continue.

Separate from the RAF Fairford case

Police said the case has nothing to do with the investigation at RAF Fairford. In that separate inquiry, counter-terror detectives have arrested seven men since reports of suspicious activity near the air base. The latest arrest, of a 22-year-old British man, came on Tuesday.

For now, the Royal Navy case heads to court, where Young will answer the two counts against him.