Metropolitan Police Begin Initial Inquiries Into Allegations Linked to Andrew Protection Officers

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it is carrying out initial inquiries into allegations relating to close protection officers formerly assigned to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The move follows claims made by a former senior officer that members of the Royalty and Specialist Protection unit may have overlooked concerns during visits connected to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

In a statement, the Met said it had not identified any wrongdoing at this stage but had begun preliminary inquiries to establish the facts surrounding the allegations. Under existing oversight rules, any evidence of misconduct would be referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for further investigation.

The claims surfaced during a radio interview in which an unnamed former senior protection officer suggested that officers who accompanied Andrew on overseas visits may have turned a blind eye to potential warning signs. The allegations relate in part to trips to Little St James, a private island owned by Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial in the United States on sex trafficking charges.

Multiple survivors have alleged they were trafficked to and abused on the island. Andrew has consistently denied any criminal wrongdoing. In 2022 he reached a financial settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who had alleged she was trafficked and forced to have sex with him when she was a teenager. The settlement did not include an admission of liability.

The former officer claimed that members of the protection team travelled with Andrew on more than one occasion, including flights on Epstein’s private jet. He also suggested there were longstanding concerns within the force in the late 1990s and early 2000s that some protection officers had become too close to those they were assigned to protect.

The Metropolitan Police said its inquiries are focused specifically on the new allegations relating to police conduct. The force emphasised that it has not found evidence of criminality but is assessing the claims in line with its procedures.

Across the UK, several police forces are reviewing material connected to Epstein following the publication of additional documents. These assessments involve examining flight logs, airport records and other historic information to determine whether further investigation is required. The National Police Chiefs’ Council has established a coordination group to assist forces dealing with the large volume of documentation and cross border legal complexities.

The case has renewed scrutiny of Andrew’s past associations and raised broader questions about accountability and oversight within specialist protection units. While the Metropolitan Police has stressed that its work is at an early stage, the developments highlight the continuing legal and reputational fallout linked to Epstein’s activities and those connected to him.