British cops refuse to reopen sex trafficking probe after claims by Prince Andrew’s accuser Virginia Roberts
BRITISH cops today refused to reopen a sex trafficking probe after allegations made by Prince Andrew's accuser Virginia Roberts.
Virginia Roberts, 35, claimed the Duke of York bedded her when she was 17, also claiming billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein trafficked her to London from the US.
But the prince claimed in his “car crash” BBC interview that he did not remember meeting Roberts - now Virginia Giuffre.
Met Commander Alex Murray, of Specialist Crime, confirmed the force had received an allegation of sex trafficking in July 2015 against Epstein and his alleged madame Ghislaine Maxwell.
He said: "In July 2015 the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) confirmed it had received an allegation of non-recent trafficking for sexual exploitation. "The allegation was made against a US national, Jeffrey Epstein, and a British woman.
"It related to events outside of the UK and an allegation of trafficking to central London in March 2001.
"Following the legal advice, it was clear that any investigation into human trafficking would be largely focused on activities and relationships outside the UK."
Commander Murray said the MPS was therefore "not the appropriate authority" to launch a probe and the "matter would not proceed to a full criminal investigation".
He added: "In August 2019, following the death of Jeffrey Epstein the MPS reviewed the decision making and our position remains unchanged.
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"The MPS has liaised with other law enforcement organisations but has not received a formal request asking for assistance in connection with this allegation."
The revelation comes as it emerged Prince Andrew has been hit with yet another blow with BBC's Panorama extending their interview with Ms Roberts by half an hour.
Ms Roberts is said to repeat claims the Duke of York had sex with her when she was a teen and branded his recent denial of the claims as “appalling”.
The prince claimed in his “car crash” BBC interview that he did not remember meeting Roberts who says she was a 17-year-old sex slave of his paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein.
Buckingham Palace is said to be bracing itself for more bombshell allegations about the prince after it was revealed the interview will be aired next week.
Key talking points of the Prince Andrew interview
- Prince Andrew admitted that knowing Epstein had some "seriously beneficial outcomes", at a time when he left a career in the Navy and begun one as a trade and industry special representitive. He said: "The people that I met and the opportunities that I was given to learn, either by him or because of him, were actually very useful."
- He was photographed with Epstein in New York in 2010, following Epstein's conviction and imprisonment for soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. Andrew claims he made the visit to tell him that their friendship was over. But Maitlis highlighted how he spent a number of days with him at his home, and how he was guest of honour at a dinner party that celebrated Epstein's release.
- Prince Andrew denied he slept with Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's victims, on three separate occasions, twice while she was underage. He said one encounter in 2001 did not happen as he spent the day with his daughter Princess Beatrice, taking her to Pizza Express in Woking for a party.
- Virginia Giuffre's claim that the royal had been sweating heavily as they danced at London nightclub Tramp, was factually wrong, the Duke said. This is because, he claimed, he had a medical condition at the time which meant he did not sweat.
- Prince Andrew says the photograph of him and Virginia is fake because of what he is wearing. He said: "I don't believe it's a picture of me in London because... when I go out in London, I wear a suit and a tie,""That's what I would describe as… those are my travelling clothes... if I'm going overseas." However, newspapers have pictured the Duke wearing jeans without a tie or blazer on a night out in London.
And in a further blow, it has now been revealed the Panorama show featuring the interview has been extended from 30 minutes to one hour.
The 35-year-old spoke to Panorama before the Royal appeared on Newsnight and it's set to be aired on Monday.
It is not known why the programme has been extended because the BBC declined to comment.
A BBC statement said: "Change of timing for next week's BBC Panorama, as the programme is now an hour long.
"The Prince and the Epstein Scandal will now air at 9pm on @BBCOne on Monday 2 December."
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Buckingham Palace has branded the allegations "false and without any foundation", stating: "any suggestion of impropriety with under-age minors" by the duke was "categorically untrue".
Ms Maxwell has also denied the claims.
