Sir Keir Starmer is facing new pressure to extradite Andrew Tate over multiple rape and trafficking charges after Romanian courts lifted all remaining conditions on him. MPs and campaigners today called on the Prime Minister to act, with the self-described misogynist now openly taunting Britain on his latest social media videos to 'come get me'.
Charges and Allegations
Tate, 39, and his brother Tristan, 37, face 21 criminal charges in the UK, including rape, actual bodily harm and human trafficking. Court documents show Tate has been accused of holding a gun to a woman's face and assaulting another by grabbing her by the throat on a number of occasions in 2015. A third woman claims he strangled her during sex. Both brothers have denied any wrongdoing. Over in Romania, the Tate brothers have denied allegations of sexual offences and forming a criminal gang.
Travel and Extradition Complications
In February, a travel ban imposed on them by Romanian authorities was lifted, allowing them to fly to Florida, Los Angeles and Dubai amid claims US President Donald Trump may have had a hand in their release. Earlier this month, a court in Romania lifted all remaining judicial controls on the brothers, with campaigners voicing concern over any visible progress in the case. Tate has now been exuding 'supreme confidence' and teasing British authorities on his social media. In one video, believed to have been filmed in Uzbekistan, he is seen sharpening a knife alongside the caption: 'Preparing for my trip to London.' In another, recorded in Hong Kong, he says: 'Why do I never get extradited? Here I am. Come get me.' Neither Hong Kong nor Uzbekistan has a formal bilateral extradition treaty with the UK, which has complicated efforts to bring him back.
Political Reactions
Politicians say it is now 'absolutely imperative' Tate comes to the UK to face the charges against him. Labour MP Emily Darlington said: 'For victim-survivors, waiting for your chance to have your voice heard in court can be unbearably retraumatising. This government's committed to making sure there is swift justice for victims of alleged rape and sexual violence, and so it's absolutely imperative that if the Romanian court process isn't proceeding, the CPS must be allowed to proceed at pace with its 21 charges against the Tate brothers.' Shadow Foreign Secretary, Dame Priti Patel said: 'Andrew Tate is charged with extremely serious crimes. Keir Starmer must use the diplomatic leverage at his disposal to work towards Tate being arrested and extradited if the opportunity arises when he travels. If Tate comes to the UK, he must face justice here.'
Campaigner and Charity Responses
Campaigner Elly Hanson, strategy director at CEASE, a charity combatting sexual abuse, said the criminal justice system in Britain 'needs to grow some teeth fast'. She said: 'We join Andrew Tate in wondering why the UK has not extradited him to face justice in relation to the serious crimes he is accused of here. If Andrew Tate does not merit extradition to face justice, then who on earth does? This is the man who not only openly boasts of controlling and violating women, but also left messages with one of his accusers sharing how much he loved raping her, and how much he loved her hating it. Our criminal justice system needs to grow some teeth fast, to avoid confirming the worst fears that many of us hold – that it is becoming a sham, a system in which serious cases are met with justice play acted not enacted.' Michael Conroy, founder of Men at Work, a charity combating misogyny, added: 'It's interesting to note that Andrew Tate spends much of his time in countries which have no - or little-used - extradition treaties with the UK. Recent videos in which he displays supreme confidence in the UK's inability to extradite him, were made in places like Uzbekistan and Hong Kong, which exemplify that. If Tate were to attempt to enter the UK, there are reasonable grounds for Hertfordshire Constabulary to arrest and question him in relation to its reinvestigation of allegations of rape and sexual assault, reported between 2014 and 2015. Judging by those displays of supreme confidence he should have nothing to fear from questioning. Let's put that to the test, should he actually attempt entry.'
Reopened Investigation
Herts Constabulary announced a reopening of allegations against Tate after the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it would be looking into the original decision to close the case. Police first launched an investigation into Tate in 2015, but the case was closed in 2019. The IOPC said last month that a former detective constable could face gross misconduct proceedings for 'alleged failures to properly investigate'. It added that two former detective sergeants, who supervised the investigation, were also being probed for alleged misconduct. The women claimed Tate sexually abused them between 2013 and 2015. The allegations include Tate holding a gun to a woman's face before saying 'you're going to do as I say or there'll be hell to pay'. One of the claimants also alleged Tate assaulted her with a belt and grabbed her by the throat on a number of occasions in 2015. Another claims he strangled her during sex while saying things such as, 'I'm just debating whether to rape you or not' and 'who do you belong to?'. After the decision was made not to prosecute, the woman took their claims to the High Court as a civil case, with the trial due to begin in June. Tate denies all of the allegations.
