Police have urged a woman who claims to have been sent to the UK by Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with the then Prince Andrew to come forward and speak to investigators.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as the former prince is now known, was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office (MIPO), but it is understood that allegations of sexual misconduct are part of the investigation.
Officers have made an appeal to the woman and said their “door is open” after it was claimed that she had been brought to the UK for a sexual encounter with the then prince at his residence at the time, Royal Lodge, in 2010.
Police have made clear that they are continuing to assess reports as part of the MIPO investigation, and said they have contacted the woman’s lawyers, as well as the US Department of Justice, to obtain original documents released as part of the Epstein files, as part of their wider investigation.
“In terms of Epstein victims and survivors, we hope that anyone with relevant information will come forward, and I really want to stress that our door is open,” said Oliver Wright, the assistant chief constable for crime and criminal justice at Thames Valley Police.
“Whenever a victim survivor is ready to engage with us, we’re ready for you, whenever that point may be.”
Assistant Chief Constable Wright added that a team of “our most experienced specialist investigators” are working on the investigation, which is understood to be of a similar scale to investigations of major crimes, including murder. It is understood that the resources afforded to it include officers who specialise in investigating sexual offences.
Police said they were aware that the “international scrutiny” surrounding the inquiry into Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, coupled with the complexity of the investigation, could deter witnesses from coming forward.
MIPO is a criminal offence that concerns serious wilful abuse, or neglect, of the power or responsibilities pertaining to the public office held. The force said it is a “crime that can take many different forms”, resulting in a “complex” and potentially lengthy investigation.
A source said police fear that people believe their investigation is focused solely on possible financial criminality, but this “couldn’t be further from the truth”.
“Misconduct in public office covers many others, including sex offences, fraud, corruption, perverting the course of justice and others,” they added.
“We have a much broader view. We are investigating all aspects and we will go where the evidence leads us.”
Thames Valley Police are coordinating with the National Police Chiefs’ Council as well as the National Crime Agency to ensure that all relevant information is received.
It is also understood that police are assessing whether Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s former position as a UK trade envoy amounts to public office. He became the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment in 2001, but stepped down 10 years later amid the furore over his friendship with paedophile financier Epstein.
In its guidelines, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) says there is “no simple definition” of public office, and that each case must be assessed individually.
The offence of MIPO can cover an array of acts of misconduct, including sexual misconduct, financial misconduct, corruption, and perversion of the course of justice. The CPS says that prosecutors must be able to prove the misconduct is directly linked to the public office.
An act of misconduct does not need to amount to a criminal offence in order to be considered. But any act could be pursued via a separate investigation if deemed relevant.
In February, Thames Valley Police confirmed it was “assessing” allegations, reported by the BBC, that a woman had been sent to the UK by Epstein in 2010 for a sexual encounter with the then Prince Andrew. The woman, who is not British, was in her twenties at the time of the alleged encounter.
Her lawyer, Brad Edwards, previously told BBC News: “We’re talking about at least one woman who was sent by Jeffrey Epstein over to Prince Andrew.”
The former prince also faces accusations of sharing sensitive information with Epstein during his time as trade envoy.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has always strenuously denied all allegations. The Independent has contacted him for comment on the latest police appeal.
It comes after documents released on Thursday showed that the late Queen was “very keen” for the then Duke of York to take on a “prominent role in the promotion of national interests”, before he was appointed trade envoy.
The memo was released as part of a tranche of files relating to Andrew’s appointment to the post, which gave him access to senior government and business contacts around the world.
Assistant Chief Constable Wright said: “Our misconduct in public office investigation is continuing. Misconduct in public office is a crime that can take different forms, making this a complex investigation.
“Our team of very experienced detectives are working meticulously through a significant amount of information that has come in from the public and other sources. We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation into all reasonable lines of inquiry, wherever they may lead.
“We encourage anyone with information to get in touch with us through the normal non-urgent contact channels, such as the Thames Valley Police online portal.
“I understand the high level of interest in this work, but please be patient as we continue to actively progress our investigation. We will provide further updates to the public and media when appropriate.”
