Almost 200 academics from more than a dozen British universities could face jail amid probe over fears they inadvertently helped China develop weapons of mass destruction

Almost 200 academics from more than a dozen British universities could face jail amid probe over fears they inadvertently helped China develop weapons of mass destruction 

A group of almost 200 British academics from more than a dozen UK universities could face jail, as officials probe whether they may have unwittingly helped the Chinese government build weapons of mass destruction. 

Officials are investigating the academics amid suspicion they may have breached laws designed to protect national security and human rights. 

The academics, who are from 20 UK universities, including some of the most prestigious in the country, are suspected of breaching the Export Control Order 2008. 

The law carries a maximum 10 year prison sentence for those who breach it. It is intended to prevent intellectual property in highly sensitive fields – including military and security – from being sent to hostile states. 

Pioneering technology on aircraft, missile design and cyberweapons may have been sent to China, according to the Times. 

Officials are preparing to send around 200 enforcement notices to those suspected of breaching the rules, the reports add, though this has since been denied by a Government source. 

Meanwhile, a source told the Times: ‘We could be seeing dozens of academics in courts before long.

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