Police issue new statement over Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor | Royal | News
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested last month (Image: US Department of Justice)
A police force has issued a new statement following reports claiming officers were assessing sex trafficking allegations against Andrew Mountbatten-Windor following his arrest last month. Thames Valley Police said they were particularly focused on investigating Andrew’s alleged misconduct in public office.
The former Duke of York was arrested on his birthday (February 19) on suspicion of misconduct in public office at his temporary home, Wood Farm, in Norfolk. He was released under investigation after being detained for 11 hours. Andrew’s arrest comes after documents in the 3 million dossier released by the US Department of Justice suggest he may have shared confidential information with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein during his time as UK trade envoy. Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.
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The former duke was arrested last month (Image: Getty)
On Wednesday, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said police forces had pressured American authorities to release unredacted files on Andrew and were examining “all proposed sexual allegations” to determine whether any “deserve a criminal investigation”. The Met chief said police in England needed “unredacted evidence” and the “original copy” to conduct an investigation there.
He added that police were reviewing documents relating to the former prince’s time as trade ambassador and that any sexual allegations, such as those made by the late Virginia Giuffre, would also be investigated if evidence was found.
on thursday, Sun reported that police were considering investigating the 66-year-old under corruption laws. Sources told the publication that a separate “scoping assessment” was being conducted into sex trafficking allegations against the former prince.
Now Thames Valley Police have released a statement on whether they are considering further allegations against Andrew.
A spokesman told the Daily Express: “We are aware of ongoing speculation about other offenses that Thames Valley Police may be investigating following the arrest of a Norfolk man in his sixties on suspicion of misconduct in public office on 19 February.
“While we remain open-minded, our investigation is currently focused on allegations of misconduct in public office.”
On Thursday, sources claimed police “had concerns” about whether Andrew’s job made him a public servant and whether they could prove it; Because in order to be sued, it must be proven that he actually abused his duty while performing his duty as a public official.
The Sun reported that detectives were allegedly working on “alternative legislation” that could involve the use of “old anti-corruption laws”.
A total of nine police forces are investigating the US financier’s links to Britain, including those involving the royal friend.
Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing, and being named in the Epstein files does not mean there was anything wrong.
