Police review Andrew claims as ‘no one is above the law’

Britain’s most senior police officer has revealed that detectives will review allegations of sexual abuse made against the Duke of York.

Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York. Picture: AFP

Britain’s most senior police officer said yesterday “no one is above the law” as she revealed that detectives will review allegations of sexual abuse made against the Duke of York.

Scotland Yard has previously said it would not open a criminal investigation into claims by Virginia Giuffre that she was trafficked to London and forced to have sex with Prince Andrew.

Giuffre filed a civil suit in New York this week seeking damages. She is suing the duke for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was 17, claiming that she was brought to the UK by the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with Andrew.

The duke has categorically denied having sex with Giuffre and said he has no recollection of meeting her.

Dame Cressida Dick, commissioner of the Metropolitan police, said a review of the case was under way. No investigation is taking place. She told LBC radio: “No one is above the law. It’s been reviewed twice before, we’ve worked closely with the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service].”

Prince Andrew and Virginia Roberts at Ghislaine Maxwell's townhouse in London in 2001. Picture: Supplied

Dick indicated that the force would co-operate with the FBI, if asked. Detectives are studying the civil claim for any new information.

She added: “We are of course open to working with authorities from overseas, we will give them every assistance if they ask us for anything, within the law obviously. As a result of what’s going on I’ve asked my team to have another look at the material.”

The Met decided in 2016 that it was not the appropriate authority to carry out an investigation into the human trafficking allegation because it “would be largely focused on activities and relationships outside the UK”.

After Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died, aged 66, in a New York jail in August 2019, the force carried out a second review. Commander Alex Murray said then that its decision remained unchanged. Dick said yesterday that police had considered “is there evidence of a crime ... is this the right jurisdiction for this to be dealt with and is the person against whom the crime is alleged still alive?” She believed the previous decisions not to open an investigation were right, but said: “We will of course review our position.”

David Boies, a lawyer acting for Giuffre, said this week that Andrew risked a default judgment if he did not engage in the civil process, adding: “You cannot hide behind wealth and power and palace walls”.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick. Picture: AFP

The Times reported yesterday that a source close to the Prince of Wales said the duke would never return to public life because of the lawsuit. Prince Charles believes that even if it fails the reputational risk is too great because of the reminder of Andrew’s friendship with Epstein.

Andrew is at Balmoral with the Queen, accompanied by his former wife, Sarah, and is holding long-distance talks with his lawyers.

Yesterday Charles was seen driving in Aberdeenshire with the Duchess of Cornwall. He had been touring Scotland to fulfil royal engagements.

The Met has previously said it had not received a formal request from US authorities asking for help in the case.

Paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Picture: AP

During her interview Dick reiterated how much she loved her job amid questions about her future when her contract expires next April. The Times revealed last month that she hopes for an extension. Dick said she had not yet had talks about her future with Priti Patel, the home secretary, and Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London.

Dick said plans for two weeks of climate protests by Extinction Rebellion over the August bank holiday were “extremely frustrating”. She added: “I don’t think London supports hugely disruptive protests.”

She defended the Met’s policing of the Euro 2020 final last month when ticketless England fans stormed Wembley. Dick said officers responded with courage and bravery.

The Times