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Robert Maxwell contacts book auction (PA Wire)
Scotland Yard has said it will look into allegations that British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell trafficked, cared for and abused women and girls in the UK.
Maxwell, the former girlfriend of late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, is in a US prison awaiting trial for recruiting three teenage girls to be sexually abused between 1994 and 1997.
Channel 4 News said an investigation has uncovered more than half a dozen claims that young women and girls have been targeted, trafficked, groomed or abused in the UK by Epstein and Maxwell on a period of more than a decade.
The outlet said some victims had provided detailed accounts of their experiences, adding that the evidence came from a combination of publicly available documents, testimonies and interviews.
(PA)
Channel 4 News said the alleged offenses included aggravated sexual assault and rape.
Metropolitan Police said they always take any new information into account and said they will review information provided to them by the broadcaster.
Nazir Afzal, the former chief prosecutor for North West England, told Channel 4 News: From what I have seen, there is clearly enough evidence for the police to investigate further. than it has done so far.
It’s worrying, because we have potential victims here.
And perhaps other victims or alleged victims who could, if an investigation proceeds, be identified.
Metropolitan Police said they always take allegations of sexual offenses and exploitation seriously.
In a statement, the force said: The MPS is clear that it will investigate allegations when there is sufficient evidence of an offense having taken place, when it is the appropriate authority to do so and when persons against which the allegations are made are alive.
The MPS stands by Commander Alex Murray’s statement released in late 2019.
This confirmed that the MPS had received a non-recent allegation of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation against a US national, Jeffrey Epstein, and a UK woman in 2015 regarding events outside the UK and an allegation of trafficking in central London in March 2001.
The story continues
Officers assessed the available evidence, interviewed the complainant and obtained early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.
However, following the legal opinion, it was clear that any investigation into human trafficking would largely focus on activities and relationships outside the UK.
The Met said officers therefore concluded that the MPS was not the appropriate authority to conduct investigations in these circumstances and, in November 2016, it was ruled that this case would not be investigated. full criminal investigation.
Officers reviewed the 2016 decision making in August 2019 following the death of Jeffrey Epstein and concluded the position should remain unchanged.
The MPS has continued to liaise and offer assistance with other law enforcement agencies investigating matters related to Jeffrey Epstein, but is unable to comment on them. people they may or may not have interacted with regarding allegations of crime.
We will always consider any new information and review any information sent to us through Channel 4, the force said.
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