Epstein housed abuse victims in London flats, BBC reveals

A BBC investigation has uncovered that sex-offending financier Jeffrey Epstein resided with women he allegedly victimized in multiple London properties following the UK police’s decision to abandon their inquiry into his activities. Four flats, located in Kensington and Chelsea—a wealthy district—were identified through financial records, emails, and receipts from the Epstein archives. Six of the individuals living in these residences have since disclosed they were subjected to sexual abuse by Epstein.

Background of the Allegations

Many of the women, hailing from Russia, Eastern Europe, and other regions, were transported to the UK after the Metropolitan Police declined to probe Virginia Giuffre’s 2015 claim of being trafficked into London. The Met maintained it pursued “reasonable lines of inquiry,” engaging Giuffre in multiple interviews and collaborating with US authorities. However, the evidence points to a more extensive network operating within the country.

Operations and Infrastructure

Documents in the Epstein files indicate that some victims were enticed into his trafficking scheme, with others being moved regularly between London and Paris via Eurostar trains. The BBC sifted through millions of pages of records obtained by the US Department of Justice to reconstruct Epstein’s UK operations. This reveals a more widespread system, including housing arrangements and cross-border transportation, persisting until his demise.

Unanswered Questions and Legal Obligations

Although the BBC refrained from naming the young women to safeguard their anonymity, it discovered British authorities had additional chances to investigate Epstein’s conduct beyond Giuffre’s 2001 trafficking report. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was allegedly involved, denied any wrongdoing. By early 2020, a second individual reported abuse to the Met, though it remains unclear if this was addressed.

“It’s astonishing that no UK police inquiry was initiated,” said Tessa Gregory, a human rights lawyer at Leigh Day. “When there are verified allegations of human trafficking, the state has a legal duty to act promptly and independently, even without victims stepping forward.”

The Met defended its actions, stating it adhered to its obligations under Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which safeguards freedom from slavery and forced labor. Kevin Hyland, a former senior detective and inaugural Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, criticized the police for overlooking opportunities to track Epstein’s movements. He suggested officers could have partnered with travel agencies to monitor credit card transactions and IP addresses linked to frequent bookings for groups of single women.

“Epstein’s death doesn’t erase the fact he wasn’t working alone,” Hyland remarked. “We need to determine who else was involved and what crimes they may have committed. Additionally, we must ask if the abuse is still occurring today.”

In the months preceding Epstein’s arrest on child sex trafficking charges and his subsequent death in custody, the BBC found he was communicating with a young Russian woman via Skype. She resided in one of the flats he financed. Epstein shared an image of himself, which she humorously questioned. He claimed it was her landlord, noting he paid rent rather than collecting it. The woman later inquired about Epstein’s motives, hinting at the complex dynamics of their relationship.