British law enforcement — primarily the Metropolitan Police Service (the Met) — considered the Epstein allegations multiple times. Their decisions not to fully pursue investigations have been controversial.
The Met’s 2015 review:
In 2015, following media coverage of Epstein’s 2008 plea deal and emerging allegations against Prince Andrew, the Metropolitan Police reviewed the available information. They concluded at that point that there was insufficient evidence to warrant opening a criminal investigation.
Virginia Giuffre’s allegations against Prince Andrew:
Virginia Giuffre’s allegations that Prince Andrew sexually abused her when she was 17 — allegations made first in civil litigation and then publicly — were specific and included detail about encounters in London, New York, and the US Virgin Islands.
The London-based allegations (an encounter at Ghislaine Maxwell’s London home) would have fallen within UK jurisdiction.
The 2019 and 2021 reviews:
After Epstein’s 2019 arrest and Prince Andrew’s catastrophic November 2019 BBC interview, the Met again received public calls to investigate. The Met stated in 2021 that it had reviewed matters and found no evidence requiring a criminal investigation to be opened regarding the Duke of York.
The New York federal case:
US prosecutors investigating the Epstein network requested that Prince Andrew cooperate with their investigation. UK officials, including Andrew’s representatives, declined this request. US prosecutors characterized this as a refusal to cooperate.
The civil settlement:
Prince Andrew settled Virginia Giuffre’s civil lawsuit against him in 2022 for a reported sum of approximately £12 million, without admitting liability. No criminal charges have ever been filed against him in any jurisdiction.
Assessment:
Critics of the British response argue that the Met’s decisions not to investigate represent a failure to treat the allegations impartially — that a non-royal accused of what Giuffre alleged would have faced criminal investigation. Defenders point to the legal standard required to initiate formal investigations under UK law.