Epstein paid for women to stay in London flats

Jeffrey Epstein secretly paid for several young women to stay in a luxury London flat close to the time of his death, according to evidence from the Epstein files obtained by the BBC. The flats were located in the affluent borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and evidence of four flats was found in receipts, emails, and bank records. Six women housed in these flats have come forward as victims of Epstein's abuse. Epstein's UK operation grew more extensive than previously known, with more victims, housing infrastructure, and frequent cross-border transportation, continuing until his death despite police warnings. Documents sent to the FBI by the National Crime Agency indicate Epstein retained an active interest in the UK shortly before his death, including a west London property. Epstein discussed the London property with an unnamed woman five days before his arrest in July 2019. In an exchange, the woman thanked Epstein for the London flat and noted its location in Chelsea. Epstein asked whether the flat was 'far from school'. The Epstein files suggest he may have paid for women to be enrolled at the Frances King School of English, near the flat. Emails suggest Epstein paid rent on behalf of a third woman on a property near Sloane Square in 2018. Epstein warned a woman: 'If you stop working, your money from me stops.' Epstein approved payment of two weeks' rent, worth £920, through his accountant in New York. Recent documents from the Epstein files show one person thanked Epstein for use of a London apartment, prompting him to ask 'Is it far from school?' while awaiting trial. Epstein has been linked to a property in Kensington after a dossier on 'suspicious payments' was compiled by the NCA and shared with the FBI.

Many of the women were brought to the UK after the Metropolitan Police decided not to investigate Virginia Giuffre's 2015 allegation of international trafficking to London. The Metropolitan Police said it followed 'reasonable lines of inquiry' and cooperated with US investigators. British police had other opportunities to investigate Epstein besides Giuffre's complaint. By early 2020, a second woman complained to the Metropolitan Police about abuse by Epstein in the UK; it is unclear if this was acted on. British authorities knew in 2020 that Epstein had rented at least one of the flats identified by the BBC. The Metropolitan Police said it fulfilled its duties under Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on the Metropolitan Police to 'urgently' re-examine claims Epstein's victims were trafficked to the UK. Brown said emails in the Epstein files showed a paper trail of visas, payments and transport records demonstrating trafficking. Brown said the files suggested a number of British girls were aboard flights from UK airports on Epstein's jet. US lawyers representing Epstein victims said it was 'shocking' that there has never been a 'full-scale UK investigation' into his activities. The UK was one of the 'centrepieces' of Epstein's operations, according to a US lawyer. Testimony from a British victim helped convict Ghislaine Maxwell, but the victim has never been contacted by UK police. The British victim, given the name Kate in the trial, was listed on more than 10 flights paid for by Epstein in and out of the UK between 1999 and 2006. US lawyer Sigrid McCawley said British authorities have not conducted a full investigation into Epstein's flights. Legal experts told the BBC a UK investigation could reveal whether British-based people enabled Epstein's crimes. Sources fear many victims were abused in Britain, putting pressure on police to open a full-scale investigation.

Some women were coerced by Epstein to recruit others and were regularly transported to Paris by Eurostar. Almost 90 flights linked to Jeffrey Epstein arrived at and departed from UK airports. Three British women who were allegedly trafficked appear in Epstein's records of flights in and out of the UK. Unidentified 'females' were listed among passengers on Epstein's UK flights. Fifteen of the UK flights took place after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting sex from a minor. Defence Secretary John Healey ordered a review of military files for evidence Epstein used RAF bases to traffic girls into the UK. An MoD spokesperson confirmed the review of records related to Epstein flights landing at RAF bases. At least ten police forces are assessing allegations of Epstein's UK links, with several looking into claims his private jet was used to traffic victims to the UK. UK police are 'assessing' information about private flights into and out of Stansted Airport following the release of DOJ documents. Stansted Airport stated that private aircraft operations are conducted through separate independent terminals, and immigration checks are handled by Border Force. Stansted is referenced in more than 80 documents in the files released by the DOJ. At least six British police forces are looking into information from the Epstein files. Bedfordshire Police is reviewing materials related to private flights in and out of London Luton Airport. Epstein flew more than 180 women on his private jets. Records suggest teenage girls were among those trafficked internationally.

The BBC searched millions of pages of records from the US Department of Justice's investigation. The NCA identified payments from accounts held or controlled by Epstein or his companies. The NCA has held informal talks with US authorities about accessing unredacted Epstein files for British police. Epstein had close ties to Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and allegedly visited Buckingham Palace. Human rights lawyer Tessa Gregory said: 'I was staggered that no UK police investigation had been launched.' The number of London flats rented by Epstein remains disputed: BBC News identified four flats from Epstein files, while Daily Mirror focused on one flat flagged by the NCA. Similarly, the number of police forces assessing Epstein's UK links varies: at least ten according to Daily Mirror, but at least six according to CNN. The source of evidence for London flats also differs: BBC relied on US Department of Justice records, while Daily Mirror highlighted UK intelligence. How many total victims were housed in Epstein's London flats remains unknown. It is unclear whether the Metropolitan Police acted on the second complaint made in early 2020. The specific information contained in the unredacted Epstein files that UK police are seeking has not been disclosed. Whether any British-based individuals were complicit in enabling Epstein's crimes in the UK is still under investigation. The full extent of Epstein's use of UK airports and RAF bases has yet to be determined.