Virginia Giuffre’s family have questioned Prince Andrew‘s motives behind the latest allegations claiming that he asked his personal security officer to dig up dirt on his abuse accuser. The royal, who relinqueshed his royal titles and honours last Friday following the latest bombshells and so they don’t “distract” the public from the work of the King and the Royal Family, found himself further dragged into the Jeffrey Epstein row after reports claimed he tried to get the Metropolitan Police to dig up dirt for a smear campaign against Ms Giuffre.
The force said it is looking into the allegations after the Mail on Sunday claimed Andrew passed Ms Giuffre’s date of birth and social security number to his taxpayer-funded bodyguard in 2011 and asked him to investigate. Meanwhile, a Buckingham Palace source said the latest allegations are of “very serious and grave concern” and should be “examined in the appropriate way”.
Now Ms Giuffre’s brother and sister-in-law, Sky and Amanda Roberts, have called on the police watchdog to review the decision by the Metropolitan Police not to continue its investigations into her allegations against Prince Andrew.
In an interview for Channel 4 News, Mrs Roberts also questioned the prince’s motivation for reportedly asking his personal security officer to dig up dirt on Ms Giuffre and alleged it could only have happened for one reason.
She said: “Why would you need to go through those lengths if you’re not guilty?”
Mr Roberts also criticised the UK and US governments for their inaction calling it “one of the biggest international cover ups in the history of the world”.
They have called for the Met Police to reopen their investigation into Ms Giuffre’s allegation that she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew when she was aged 17, an allegation he vehemently denies until this day.
And they said that if the London force would not take action, they felt the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) should review the decision.
Speaking on Channel 4’s podcast The Fourcast, Mr Roberts said that his sister continually asked: “What is it going to take for people to finally believe me?”
He added: “By continuously being gaslit by the UK Government, the UK Metropolitan Police, the US government here, it was just a kick in the stomach.”
When asked by presenter Jackie Long, if she felt the issue should be referred to the police watchdog, Mr Roberts’ wife, Amanda, replied: “Absolutely.”
Mr Roberts added that he would not stop campaigning until “justice is served”.
He said: “We won’t stop until justice is served because I mean, one, she protected me when I was a kid and she’s protecting your daughters. I loved my sister and I, I hope she’s proud.”
The IOPC would not comment on the case but a spokesman explained that its role was to investigate referrals if a complaint was made to a police force that fulfilled appropriate criteria.
In a statement to Channel 4 News, the Metropolitan Police said: “Our thoughts are with Ms Giuffre’s family and friends following her death.
“In 2015 we were made aware of allegations around non-recent trafficking for sexual exploitation.
“This related to events outside the UK and an allegation of trafficking to central London in March 2001.
“Officers assessed the available evidence, interviewed the complainant, liaised with other law enforcement agencies who led investigations into these matters and obtained early investigative advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.
“Following the legal advice, it was clear that any investigation into human trafficking would be largely focused on activities and relationships outside the UK.
“Officers therefore concluded that the Met was not the appropriate authority to conduct inquiries in these circumstances and, in November 2016, a decision was made that this matter would not proceed to a full criminal investigation.
“That decision was reviewed in August 2019. In November 2019, the Met confirmed that it would remain unchanged.”
The interview will be available on the Channel 4 News YouTube channel and shown on Channel 4 News on Tuesday.
