Brexit team on high alert over espionage threat

BRITAIN’S Brexit team has been placed on high alert to guard against other countries stealing classified information.

There is growing concern that intelligence services from EU states or outside the bloc may use sophisticated techniques to undermine Britain’s position.

It is understood that the UK’s negotiators, including the 98 officials who travelled to Brussels for talks this week, have been told to be extra vigilant with documents held on mobile devices.

Brexit secretary David Davis has also been told to carry documents in a briefcase that blocks all wireless, cellular, GPS and WiFi signals.

A Faraday shield allows the minister to store his mobile phone and other devices so that signals cannot be intercepted by spies armed with encryption software.

Brussels officials have established a high-tech security scanner to protect access to its Brexit HQ used by its Taskforce50 team – a reference to article 50.

Fingerprint scanners were installed recently on the fifth floor of the European Commission’s Berlaymont building.