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UK police launch new investigation into child sex abuse allegations linked to Epstein files

UK police launch new investigation into child sex abuse allegations linked to Epstein files

Surrey Police are investigating two separate allegations of historic child sexual abuse following the release of files linked to the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The force said the inquiry related to one report linked to locations in Surrey and Berkshire in the mid 1990s to 2000, while the other related to west Surrey in the mid to late 1980s. No arrests have been made.

The latest investigation comes after Surrey Police called for witnesses to come forward in February, after a redacted report released by the US Department of Justice in December set out allegations of human trafficking and sexual assault, which allegedly took place in Virginia Water between 1994 and 1996.

The force’s plea came after an FBI report from July 2020, which appeared in the files, alleged sexual abuse against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in Surrey in the mid-1990s.

The claims, made as part of an anonymous tip to police, alleged that a woman was restrained on a table and “tortured with electrical shocks” by Maxwell, while the former prince and other men watched on.

The force said they had found no evidence of the allegations being reported to them after reviewing their systems.

Confirming the new inquiry, the force said in a statement: “Following the release of files relating to Jeffery Epstein by the US Department of Justice, we are investigating two separate allegations of non-recent child sexual abuse.

“One report relates to locations in Surrey and Berkshire in the mid-1990s to 2000. The other relates to the mid to late 1980s in West Surrey.

“No arrests have been made. We take all reports of sexual offending seriously and will work to identify any reasonable lines of enquiry to verify information or establish corroborating evidence.

“There is no further information at this time.”

In a statement earlier this year, Surrey Police said: “Following the US Department of Justice Epstein file release in December 2025, Surrey Police became aware of a redacted report alleging non-recent human trafficking and sexual assaults on a minor in Virginia Water, Surrey between 1994-1996.

“After reviewing our systems using the limited information available to us, we found no evidence of these allegations being reported to Surrey Police. We therefore encourage anyone with information in relation to these allegations to report this to us online, or via 101.”

Multiple UK police forces have been reviewing information contained within the millions of pages of Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice earlier this year.

Surrey Police’s inquiry follows separate investigations by Thames Valley Police and the Metropolitan Police, who have arrested Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and former US ambassador Peter Mandelson, respectively, for alleged misconduct in public office.

In both cases it was claimed that they passed confidential government information to the disgraced financier. Both men deny any wrongdoing.

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