British police leaders say they are working with overseas counterparts to assess millions of documents released by the U.S. Justice Department as part of its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — but caution that cross-border evidence sharing is complex and time-consuming.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), which represents police forces across the United Kingdom, has established a national coordinating group to manage Epstein-related inquiries. A spokesperson said the body is liaising with international law enforcement partners through approved legal channels.
“The sharing of documents related to overseas criminal investigations between law enforcement agencies in different countries is an extremely complex process, and not straightforward,” the spokesperson said, noting the “complexity of international jurisdictions.”
Mutual Legal Assistance — But No Obligation
The U.S. and the U.K. operate under a mutual legal assistance agreement (MLAT), allowing British authorities to formally request information through the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. However, legal experts say Washington is not obligated to proactively share investigative findings, particularly raw materials from criminal probes.
The Justice Department has not confirmed whether it has provided any information to British authorities following the mass release of Epstein-related documents — an unusual step taken under federal transparency legislation signed by Donald Trump.
Typically, the Justice Department does not release raw investigative files en masse, and sensitive discovery materials are governed by court-imposed protective orders. Before the release, the Justice Department and the FBI said they “did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.”
Andrew Under Investigation
The developments come as former prince Prince Andrew, Duke of York — now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — faces scrutiny in the U.K. He was arrested Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office following fresh revelations about his relationship with Epstein.
Thames Valley Police said earlier this month they were investigating claims that Andrew, while serving as a U.K. trade envoy in 2010, shared sensitive documents with Epstein. An email included in the latest U.S. document release appears to show him forwarding a report from his adviser detailing an official visit to Southeast Asia.
Andrew, who turned 66 on Thursday, has consistently denied wrongdoing. He stepped back from royal duties in 2019 and was stripped of his honorary titles last year by his brother, King Charles III. The king said he was “deeply concerned” by the latest developments and emphasized that “the law must take its course.”
In 2022, Andrew reached a legal settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who alleged in a 2021 lawsuit that she had been trafficked by Epstein and sexually abused by the prince when she was 17. Andrew denied the allegations and settled without admitting liability.
Previous U.S. Frustrations
In 2020, U.S. federal prosecutors in New York formally requested, through the British government, to interview Andrew as part of their criminal investigation into Epstein’s network. Then-U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman publicly criticized Andrew, saying he had offered to cooperate but had provided “zero cooperation.”
Emails in the newly released files suggest that London’s Metropolitan Police sought assistance from an FBI agent based in the U.K. regarding Epstein-related matters. It remains unclear whether substantive discussions took place.
Global Fallout
The release of the Epstein files has also triggered investigations elsewhere in Europe.
In Norway, authorities have opened a corruption probe into former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland over reported links to Epstein. In France, Paris Public Prosecutor Laure Beccuau has launched inquiries into alleged human trafficking and possible financial wrongdoing connected to Epstein.
The Justice Department maintains mutual legal assistance agreements with both Norway and France, as well as numerous other countries, but has not confirmed whether those governments have sought additional material.
As international authorities sift through the unprecedented trove of documents, the Epstein scandal continues to reverberate across political, legal, and royal institutions worldwide — underscoring the legal and diplomatic challenges of investigating alleged misconduct that spans multiple jurisdictions.
