Girls who declare to have details about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor can not belief British police to talk to them, an American lawyer representing tons of of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims has instructed the BBC.
Brad Edwards stated he had “a number of shoppers” who may converse in regards to the former prince however didn’t consider he would obtain correct therapy within the UK and was involved that talking out would result in a press intrusion.
Amongst his shoppers are girls who declare they have been despatched to Britain for sexual encounters with the previous prince.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has at all times categorically denied any wrongdoing.
The Nationwide Police Chiefs’ Council stated those that come ahead will probably be “handled with the utmost care, compassion and respect”.
Mr Edwards instructed BBC Information: “Clients who’ve details about (Mountbatten-Windsor) won’t focus on this with the UK authorities for 2 causes.
“First, confidence within the authorities is low as a result of they’d no intention of doing something when Epstein was alive.
“Secondly, and most significantly, harassment by the British press has deterred them from cooperating with British authorities or chatting with the British press.”
Mr Edwards represents a lady who made a grievance in opposition to Mr Mountbatten-Windsor about an encounter on the former prince’s Royal Lodge house in 2010, earlier than inviting Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to tea at Buckingham Palace.
Thames Valley Police confirmed in February that it could look into the allegations.
She is the second girl within the UK to assert abuse after Virginia Giuffre.
Mr Edwards stated “a number of shoppers” had initially indicated they might cooperate with British police relating to the costs, however have been dissuaded after UK-based journalists started investigating the ladies and their households.
Ms Edwards stated “different victims realized” that her privateness had been threatened by talking out.
Thames Valley Police stated in a press release that it had liaised with the lady’s authorized group, however her lawyer stated he wouldn’t contact police attributable to considerations in regards to the girl’s privateness.
Mr Edwards confirmed that Thames Valley Police had been in touch with him.
The pressure introduced final week that it could examine allegations of sexual misconduct in opposition to the previous prince as a part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of misconduct in public workplace. The investigation started after paperwork launched in the USA advised that Mr. Epstein had handed confidential info to Mr. Epstein whereas working as a commerce envoy for the British authorities.
BBC Information additionally spoke about one other US lawyer, Sigrid McCauley, who represents Epstein survivors who might have been trafficked to the UK by Epstein.
She instructed BBC Information she had not heard from the Metropolitan Police for the reason that US Division of Justice launched the Epstein recordsdata in January.
Mr McCauley represented Ms Giuffre, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s first and most distinguished accuser, who claimed she was taken to the UK by Mr Epstein in 2001 to have a sexual relationship with Mr Mountbatten-Windsor.
Giuffre filed a grievance with the Metropolitan Police in 2015. Officers questioned her a number of instances however have been instructed there could be no investigation.
Ms Mountbatten-Windsor has settled a civil declare she introduced in 2022 for an estimated £12 million. She took her personal life final yr.
He was arrested on February 19 and launched after being investigated on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace.
Thames Valley Police normally don’t launch an individual’s identify until a cost is filed, so Thames Valley Police have solely described the person as “a person in his 60s from Norfolk”.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor denied any private profit from his position as UK commerce envoy from 2001 to 2011.
Epstein was convicted of pimping a minor in 2008 and died in a New York jail in 2019 whereas awaiting trial on intercourse trafficking costs.
A spokesperson for the Nationwide Police Chiefs’ Council stated: “As a part of the UK police response, efforts are already being made to contact victims and survivors who’ve chosen to share their experiences publicly.
“In some circumstances this has included participating with authorized representatives, however we acknowledge that now we have not but been capable of attain everybody and our efforts proceed.
“We perceive that coming ahead could be very tough and we would like everybody affected to know that they’ll come ahead in their very own time and once they really feel prepared. Our doorways stay open.”
“If a sufferer/survivor chooses to contact UK police, they are going to be handled with care, compassion and respect, with their well being, privateness and anonymity rights on the coronary heart of our response.”
