British regional police force that protects royal family arrested former prince
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Police officers patrolling the perimeter of Wood Farm where Mr Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in Sandringham, Britain, on Feb 19.
PHOTO: EPA
LONDON – The Thames Valley Police, the force that arrested Mr Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Feb 19
But like any British police force, the force must also investigate crimes reported to have taken place in its territory.
That meant the investigation into potential misconduct in public office by Mr Mountbatten-Windsor
In fact, it was law enforcement officials from the Thames Valley force who arrested Mr Mountbatten-Windsor on the morning of Feb 19.
Day to day, the force’s officers provide armed teams and mounted officers to guard Windsor Castle, and the crowds of tourists and locals who frequently gather for events in the town of Windsor, which is 40.2km west of London.
The force covers more than 5,698 kq km of territory in South East England, which encompasses Windsor Castle and the stately home known as Chequers, which belongs to the prime minister, and frequently hosts royals and international dignitaries.
When US President Donald Trump was entertained at both of those locations during his lavish state visit in September, the Thames Valley Police carried out one of the biggest protective security operations in British history for the occasion, deploying drones, snipers, sniffer dogs, horses and boat teams.
Many of the 43 regional police forces in England and Wales cover just one city or county, but the Thames Valley Police – one of Britain’s largest forces, with about 5,000 officers, according to the latest government figures – is responsible for Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire, which have more than 2.3 million residents.
The Thames Valley Police is one of several British police forces investigating potential offences relating to the Epstein files.
London’s Metropolitan Police in February began an investigation into a former British government minister, Mr Peter Mandelson – also in relation to potential misconduct in public office.
It is also making initial inquiries regarding accusations that an unnamed protection officer had turned a “blind eye” during visits to the private island in the Caribbean that sex offender Jeffrey Epstein owned.
The Surrey Police has called for any witnesses to allegations of child sexual abuse in the 1990s to come forward, and several forces that host airports used by Epstein’s private jet are assessing information in the files.
In a statement on Feb 18, the British National Police Chiefs’ Council said a coordination group was supporting the regional forces to “seek information from overseas law enforcement agencies”.
It added that “policing and its law enforcement partners are taking this matter extremely seriously and will assess all information thoroughly”. NYTIMES
