A covert camera was discovered concealed in a ceiling panel of a Whitehall office block that houses the Home Office and the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Security staff say the device had likely been in place for several months, prompting an urgent investigation and renewed alarm over potential spying linked to the controversial Chinese mega‑embassy plan.

Secret camera found in Marsham Street Whitehall building

Security officials working at the Marsham Street complex in Victoria, London, uncovered the hidden device during a routine sweep of a communal area used by multiple civil servants. The camera was lodged in a ceiling panel,a location that allowed a clear line of sight into shared workspaces. According to the source report, the discovery was made within the last two months, though officials have not disclosed the exact date.

Camera believed to have been hidden for several months

Investigators estimate the surveillance unit may have been installed for an extended period, possibly dating back to the early stages of the Chinese embassy planning process.. The source notes that staff were "shocked" by the find, fearing that conversations and movements could have been recorded. No definitive evidence has yet emerged about whether any footage was retrieved or transmtted.

Shadow minister Alex Burghart demands urgent investigation

Tory shadow minister Alex Burghart described the incident as "extremely serious" and called for a rapid, transparent inquiry . He warned that the presence of a hidden camera in a building that hosts the Home Office raises "serious questions about the security of government departments and the actions of those seeking to undermine them." The source quotes Burghart demanding answers on who placed the device, how long it was active, and whether any classified material was compromised.

Link to the China mega‑embassy controversy

The camera's location is significant because the same building hosted ministers who approved the planned Chinese mega‑embassy on the former Royal Mint site. opponents have long warned that the embassy could serve as a hub for espionage, citing past Chinese and Russian cyber‑operrations against UK government systems. The source highlights that the embassy proposal has faced criticism from MPs across parties, who cite the proximity to sensitive underground communications and data centres in the City of London.

Who placed the device and what was captured?

The investigation has yet to identify the perpetrator or the intended target of the surveillance. Officials have not confirmed whether the camera was part of a broader espionage campaign or a rogue operation. As the source points out, the lack of a clear suspect leaves open the possibility of state‑linked actors, private contractors, or even an insider with access to building maintenance areas.