The Metropolitan Police interviewed Virginia Giuffre three times regarding allegations that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked her to London in 2001 for sexual encounters with Prince Andrew. Despite these interviews in 2015 (twice) and 2016, police declined to initiate a criminal investigation into the serious claims that Giuffre was forced to have sex with the royal at Ghislaine Maxwell's home.

Police reviewed their decision in 2019, 2021, and 2022 as new information emerged from US prosecutions of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Each time, authorities maintained that the investigation would focus on activities outside the UK. Giuffre, who died by suicide in 2025 at age 41, provided photographic evidence and detailed accounts of the alleged abuse including a payment of approximately $15,000 from Epstein to keep her silent.

Recent developments include the arrest of Peter Mandelson and Prince Andrew on suspicion of misconduct in public office following the release of Epstein documents. The Metropolitan Police stated they followed legal advice that international authorities were better positioned to investigate activities occurring overseas, despite evidence suggesting potential crimes took place within the UK and missed opportunities to pursue the case before Epstein's indictment.