Epstein Survivors Refuse UK Police Cooperation in Andrew Probe as Lawyer Cites 2 Trust Failures
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 28
Epstein Survivors Refuse UK Police Cooperation in Andrew Probe as Lawyer Cites 2 Trust Failures
9 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 28
Multiple Epstein survivors with information about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor are refusing to speak to UK police, lawyer Brad Edwards told the BBC, saying they do not expect proper treatment and fear British media intrusion.
Two factors are driving that stance, Edwards said: authorities "did not care to do anything" when Epstein was alive, and UK-based journalists' scrutiny of an accuser and her family deterred other potential witnesses.
Thames Valley Police has been assessing a 2010 allegation involving Royal Lodge since February and said it had contacted the woman's legal team, but her lawyer declined police communication over privacy concerns.
The reluctance extends beyond one case: lawyer Sigrid McCawley said she had received no contact from the Metropolitan Police since U.S. Epstein files were released in January, despite representing survivors possibly trafficked to the UK.
The police outreach comes as Mountbatten-Windsor, arrested on 19 February and released under investigation, faces scrutiny over alleged misconduct in public office and possible sexual-misconduct inquiries; he denies wrongdoing.
Why do Epstein survivors fear the British press more than they trust the UK police to deliver justice?
With investigations now probing fraud and corruption, what did UK elites truly gain from their association with Jeffrey Epstein?
The Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor–Epstein Investigation: Survivor Refusal, Institutional Distrust, and the Challenge to UK Justice
Overview
Jeffrey Epstein's survivors are refusing to cooperate with UK police in the investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, mainly due to a deep lack of trust in UK authorities and strong concerns about privacy and public scrutiny. Their distrust is fueled by the Royal Family's decision to strip Andrew of his titles without further action, which, according to their legal representatives, has allowed him to claim a lack of funds and avoid compensating survivors. This has had the opposite effect of what was intended, leaving survivors feeling unsupported and reinforcing their belief that UK institutions are not prioritizing justice for them.