Mark Bullen labored for greater than a decade at Hertfordshire Constabulary.
A former police officer who fled Britain for Russia has been stripped of his UK citizenship (Picture: Getty)
An ex-policeman has change into the primary British individual to have their UK citizenship stripped as a result of hyperlinks with Russia. Usually, the transfer is related to terrorists and harmful gangsters, however Dwelling Secretary Shabana Mahmood justified it on the grounds of nationwide safety. Mark Bullen, 45, had his British passport revoked after having labored for greater than a decade at Hertfordshire Constabulary. He as soon as described Russia as his “childhood love”, and admitted to Russian media that as a baby he was known as a spy by household and associates as a result of his ardour for the Soviet Union.
The person obtained a Russian citizenship in 2022, which has been his “lifelong dream”, and has been residing in St Petersburg. Visiting the UK a few times a 12 months to go to household was “straightforward”, he stated, till November 2024, when he claims he was “forcibly detained” below the terrorism act at Luton Airport. He had his digital gadgets seized and says he was requested concerning the 2018 Salisbury poisonings throughout a four-hour interview after flying to the UK from Russia.
Throughout his time within the British police, Bullen met senior Russian officers and took half in a month-long change to St Petersburg, The Instances stories.
Ms Mahmood stated the proof on which her choice was based mostly “shouldn’t be made public within the pursuits of nationwide safety”.
Nevertheless, he denies any wrongdoing. Final 12 months, when his citizenship was stripped, he instructed the Each day Mail: “I completely deny I’m any menace to the UK. I discover that comical.
”I discover it arduous to consider {that a} nation like England, which is meant to be about freedom and liberty, would behave on this approach.
”I’ve by no means been charged. I’ve an ideal police file, two commendations, I used to be awarded officer of the 12 months.”
Bullen lived in St Petersburg with a twin citizenship till 2025 (Picture: Getty)
Prior to now, simply two different people, each of whom had been foreign-born, are believed to have had their British citizenship eliminated due to their suspected hyperlinks to the Kremlin.
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The Dwelling Workplace stated: “Deprivation of British citizenship is a crucial device used to guard the UK from a number of the most harmful folks, together with these concerned in terrorism, hostile state exercise, or critical organised crime.
“Deprivation choices are by no means taken calmly, however this authorities will at all times take no matter motion is important to maintain our nation protected.”
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