Pressure builds for Met police probe over Andrew sex claims

SCOTLAND Yard was under pressure today to investigate Prince Andrew as newly-released court documents cited the royal and other high-profile figures connected to the late billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

- Jitendra Joshi

King Charles is reportedly determined that there is “no way back” to public life for his younger brother in light of the US papers, which centre on testimony by the Duke of York’s accuser Virginia Giuffre and others questioned by lawyers.

Graham Smith, head of the anti-monarchy group Republic, said yesterday that he had reported Prince Andrew to the Metropolitan Police following the release of the first batch of documents. He accused the London force of failing to conduct a serious criminal investigation into Ms Giuffre’s allegations.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was asked this morning on LBC whether the police should investigate the alleged sexual abuse by Andrew of Ms Giuffre in London in the early 2000s, when she was 17.

The former Director of Public Prosecutions said: “Wherever there is a complaint made it is inevitable that it should be looked at. We have to start with the victims here and look at what allegations have been made.

“I’ve seen the headlines on this, not the detail,” Sir Keir added. “But, frankly, whoever it is, where there are credible allegations made, then of course they should be looked at.”

Scotland Yard said in August 2022 that it was taking no further action over the Epstein allegations and has previously defended its decision in 2015 not to investigate the claims by Ms Giuffre.

A Met spokesman said today: “We are aware of the release of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein. As with any matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention we will assess it. No investigation has been launched.”