Epstein ran secret London flat network for young women

Jeffrey Epstein secretly paid for young women to stay at a luxury flat in London until shortly before his death, according to evidence from the Epstein files. 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 from the files. However, a separate dossier from the National Crime Agency identified a property in Kensington, creating a discrepancy with the four flats found in the Epstein files. Six women housed in these flats have come forward as victims of Epstein's abuse, according to multiple reports. Epstein's UK operation grew more extensive than previously known, with more victims, housing infrastructure, and frequent transportation of women across borders, right up to his death.

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, according to multiple reports. The Metropolitan Police said it followed 'reasonable lines of inquiry' and interviewed Giuffre multiple times. British police had other opportunities to open an inquiry into Epstein's UK activities besides Giuffre's complaint. By early 2020, a second woman had complained to the Metropolitan Police that she had been abused by Epstein in the UK, but it is not clear whether the complaint 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 recognized its duties under Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights and was confident these were fulfilled.

Almost 90 flights linked to Jeffrey Epstein arrived at and departed from UK airports, according to research. Three British women who were allegedly trafficked appear in Epstein's records of flights in and out of the UK. Testimony from a British victim helped convict Ghislaine Maxwell, but the victim has never been contacted by UK police, according to Brad Edwards. The 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. Unidentified 'females' were listed among passengers on flights into and out of the UK. Fifteen of the UK flights took place after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting sex from a minor. Epstein is believed to have flown more than 180 women on his private jets, and records suggest teenage girls were among those trafficked internationally.

At least ten police forces are assessing allegations of Epstein's links to the UK, with several looking into claims his private jet was flown into UK airports to traffic victims, according to multiple reports. However, another source states that at least six British police forces are looking into information or assisting with inquiries, creating a discrepancy in the number of forces involved. Sources fear there could be many victims who were abused in Britain, putting pressure on police to open a full-scale investigation. UK police are 'assessing' information about private flights into and out of London's Stansted Airport following the release of US documents, according to an Essex Police spokesperson. 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 US Department of Justice. The NCA has held informal talks with US authorities on having access to unredacted copies of the Epstein files for British police. Defence Secretary John Healey ordered a review of military files for any evidence that Epstein used RAF bases to traffic girls into the UK. An MoD spokesperson said the Defence Secretary ordered a review of all records relating to Epstein flights landing at RAF bases.

Epstein has been linked to a property in Kensington after a dossier on 'suspicious payments' was put together by the National Crime Agency and shared with the FBI, according to multiple reports. The NCA identified payments from accounts held or controlled by Epstein or his associated companies. Documents sent to the FBI by the NCA indicate Epstein retained an active interest in the UK shortly before his death, including a west London property. Epstein was discussing the 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. The exchange suggests the woman originally placed in the flat was willing to sublet it to another unidentified female. Emails suggest Epstein also paid rent on behalf of a third woman on a property near Sloane Square in 2018. Epstein approved payment of two weeks' rent, worth £920, through his accountant in New York.

Recent documents from the Epstein files highlighted one person who thanked Epstein for the use of a London apartment, prompting him to ask 'Is it far from school?' as he awaited trial. Epstein's question about school relates to a language school in West London. The Epstein files suggest he may have paid for women to be enrolled at the Frances King School of English, near the flat. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown claimed Epstein may have trafficked victims in English-language schools in the US to obtain US visas, and believes a probe should look into whether this happened in the UK. According to www.cnn.com, Gordon Brown described emails showing a paper trail of visas, payments and transport records demonstrating trafficking of women and girls. The London apartment also features in a Skype conversation between Epstein and another woman, where she questioned him about a trip to 'Disney'.

Some women housed in the London flats were coerced by Epstein to recruit others into his sex trafficking scheme and were regularly transported to Paris by Eurostar, according to emails in the files. The BBC searched through millions of pages of records from the US Department of Justice's investigation of Epstein. Epstein had extensive links to the UK through high-society circles, including Ghislaine Maxwell and Prince Andrew. According to BBC News, Tessa Gregory described being staggered to learn that there has never been a UK police investigation into Epstein's activities in this country. According to www.bbc.com, US lawyers representing Epstein victims described it as shocking that there has never been a full-scale UK investigation. According to www.bbc.com, a US lawyer described the UK as one of the centrepieces of Epstein's operations. According to www.bbc.com, Sigrid McCawley described British authorities as not having conducted a full investigation into Epstein's flights and activities. According to www.bbc.com, legal experts described that a UK investigation could reveal whether British-based people enabled Epstein's crimes.

Several key questions remain unanswered. The total number of victims housed in Epstein's London flats has not been confirmed. It is unclear whether UK police acted on the second complaint from a woman abused by Epstein in the UK. The specific evidence contained in the NCA dossier regarding suspicious payments has not been disclosed. It remains uncertain whether the UK government will launch a full-scale investigation into Epstein's activities. The number of British victims trafficked on Epstein's flights to and from UK airports is also unknown.