Police are said to be considering ‘archaic anti-corruption laws’ to investigate Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after his arrest last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office
Police are looking to use anti-corruption laws to investigate Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after his arrest, reports say.
Insiders claim police are separately conducting a ‘scoping assessment’ into sex trafficking allegations against the former prince, who was arrested on his birthday last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was released 11 hours later under investigation.
It follows documents within the three million files released by the US Department of Justice which indicated he may have disclosed confidential information during his tenure as the UK’s trade envoy with the convicted paedophile. Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
This week, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, revealed that British police forces are urging American authorities to release the unredacted files surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to the UK, as they are examining a “whole range of suggested sexual allegations” to establish whether any “merit a criminal investigation”.
The Met chief said police “need the unredacted evidence” and “original copy” to pursue investigations.
He told ABC News: “Those investigations all go wherever the evidence takes them – quite comfortable with investigating sort of famous or powerful people.
“I think it’s really important for policing to do that, that sense of operating without fear or favour. The law applies equally to everyone, and those cases will go, say, wherever the evidence leads us to.”
Police are also reported to be considering ‘archaic’ corruption laws in an investigation into Andrew, with insiders telling The Sun that a separate scoping assessment is being conducted into sex trafficking allegations against the former prince.
Sources also suggested that police “have concerns” about whether Andrew’s role made him a public official and whether they can demonstrate that, as, in order to be prosecuted, it would have to be proved he actually committed misconduct whilst performing his duties as a public official.
Former head of Met Royalty policing, Dai Davie, told the outlet: “Police need to consider every law at their disposal. It is not just Andrew they should be looking at, but those who may have assisted or benefited from his alleged actions.”
Thames Valley Police, who are leading the investigation into allegations of misconduct in a public office, said the force will not be providing any further updates other than the details published in their press releases.
A total of nine police forces are examining the US financier’s connections to the UK, including those related to the disgraced royal. Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and being mentioned in the Epstein files does not indicate wrongdoing.
It comes as the disgraced younger brother of the King seems to be preparing to finally settle into his new home, Marsh Farm. Andrew has been living in Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate ever since his eviction from Royal Lodge. He has been waiting for renovations to be carried out at his future property, including the installation of a tall security fence, landscaping, new carpets and a Sky TV dish.
