Surrey Police have announced they will close the investigation into an alleged rape outside a church in Epsom, stating they are 'confident there was no offence'. The force received a report on 11 April that a woman had been raped near the church after leaving Labyrinth nightclub, but a thorough investigation revealed the woman in her 20s had suffered an accidental head injury, leading to a confused report.
Detectives conducted extensive CCTV analysis, house-to-house inquiries, witness interviews, and forensic tests. The force acknowledged that a lack of detail in their initial appeal, due to vague descriptions, caused community concern. They emphasised that every report of sexual offending is taken seriously and treated with sensitivity.
The alleged rape sparked public anger over the lack of suspect ethnicity information, leading to protests. On Monday, eggs and beer cans were thrown at police during clashes. Four people were arrested after items were thrown at officers in riot gear, and one man attempted to climb a police van.
Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend condemned the 'shameful' behaviour, noting that some protesters had travelled from elsewhere. She warned those intent on causing trouble to stay away, stating that police would take robust action and offenders would face the full force of the law.
The protests were promoted online by Danny Tommo, a former associate of right-wing activist Tommy Robinson. The disorder followed an earlier protest on 15 April, where a large crowd gathered and objects were thrown at police.
