Hidden camera found in government building

A hidden camera has been discovered in a government building in the heart of Westminster.

The electronic device was found in the communal area of the complex on Marsham Street, where the Home Office and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) are based.

The i newspaper, which first reported the story, said it was found behind a ceiling panel within the last two months, and security services have been informed.

Home Office sources say it was found in MHCLG's part of the building, away from ministerial offices. An MHCLG spokesperson said: "We do not comment on security matters."

The building is the base for the Home Office, responsible for policing in England and Wales and national security, and MHCLG, which is responsible for housing and planning policy in England.

Tory shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said: "This is a serious incident that demands an urgent investigation.

"The discovery of a hidden camera inside a building that occupies the Home Office and other departments raises questions about the security of government departments and those seeking to undermine them.

"The public deserves answers. We urgently need to know who was responsible, how long this device was in place and whether any sensitive or classified information has been compromised."

The Home Office declined to comment. The prime minister's spokesman declined to comment, referring reporters to the earlier statement from MHCLG.