Essex Police have confirmed they are assessing claims that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein used Stansted Airport to traffic women. The move follows former Prime Minister Gordon Brown's assertion that released US documents show Epstein flew girls from Latvia, Lithuania, and Russia into the Essex airport.
The force initially declined to comment on the allegations but has now stated it is reviewing information about private flights into and out of Stansted. This comes after Brown wrote in the New Statesman that Epstein's jet made 90 flights to or from UK airports, including 15 after his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor.
Four British police forces are now examining Epstein-related claims. Thames Valley Police is assessing two allegations against Prince Andrew, while Surrey Police is reviewing another. The Metropolitan Police is criminally investigating Lord Mandelson for allegedly passing information to Epstein. Bedfordshire Police has not confirmed if it is examining claims about Luton Airport.
A senior policing source told the Guardian that a 'tsunami' of allegations is expected from the release of millions of Epstein files. The National Police Chiefs' Council has set up a coordination group to support forces assessing these allegations.
Stansted Airport stated that private aircraft operate through independent fixed base operators and that Border Force handles all immigration and customs checks for private jet passengers. The airport said it has no visibility of passenger arrangements on privately operated aircraft.
