On 24th April 2026, a BBC investigation reported that Jeffrey Epstein housed abuse victims in London flats in the years after police in the UK chose not to investigate him.
In response, Kerry Brighouse, UK Programmes Director at anti-trafficking charity Hope for Justice, said: “We are seeing a deprioritisation of how modern slavery and human trafficking are addressed in the UK, with specialist police teams cut back, national units disbanded, and these crimes too often treated as immigration matters or civil disputes, instead of as serious crimes requiring an urgent response ensuring that survivors are believed and safeguarded. For many of the survivors we support at Hope for Justice, reports are made but investigations fail to progress because of limited resources, inconsistent understanding, and poor coordination between forces.
“The reports today about victims of Epstein and his network in the UK sadly reflect these wider shortcomings – it seems clear that investigations could and should have proceeded when these reports were made.
“We urge the Government and police to invest properly, take seriously both historic and ongoing offences, and ensure investigations proceed – to secure justice for survivors, and to prevent further harm.”
