Quick Read
- Newly discovered credit card records place Epstein’s victims in London flats as late as 2019.
- UK law enforcement faces intense criticism for failing to act on specific trafficking reports made as early as 2015.
- Major global foundations are launching internal investigations into historical ties to Epstein’s network.
LONDON (Azat TV) – A major investigation has uncovered that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein maintained a network of residential properties across London where he housed victims of abuse, even after British authorities were formally alerted to his human trafficking operations in 2015. The findings, which surfaced on April 26, 2026, have ignited public outcry over why the Metropolitan Police failed to launch a formal investigation into the financier’s activities despite repeated warnings.
The London Network and Police Inaction
An investigation by the BBC utilized credit card records and tenancy agreements to track Epstein’s movements, identifying four properties in the affluent Kensington and Chelsea neighborhoods. Evidence suggests these flats were used to house women, many of whom were coerced into recruiting others for Epstein. Despite these activities occurring in the heart of London, the Metropolitan Police maintained for years that other international authorities were better positioned to handle the case, despite interviewing key accusers like Virginia Giuffre on multiple occasions.
Tessa Gregory, a human rights lawyer with Leigh Day, described the lack of official response as staggering, noting that the UK state held a positive legal obligation to conduct an independent investigation into credible trafficking allegations. Former senior detective Kevin Hyland, the UK’s first independent anti-slavery commissioner, echoed these concerns, stating that there were clear, missed opportunities to halt Epstein’s operations before his 2019 death in a New York jail.
Broader Implications for Elite Institutions
The revelation of these London hideouts comes at a time of heightened scrutiny regarding Epstein’s global influence. As legal and investigative pressure mounts, other entities are facing internal reviews. Reports indicate that major philanthropic organizations, including the Gates Foundation, are currently investigating historical ties to Epstein’s network. This follows a broader trend of institutional re-evaluation triggered by the release of previously sealed documents and ongoing legal disclosures.
Public Demand for a Formal Inquiry
The failure of UK law enforcement to intervene has led to widespread calls for a public inquiry. Lisa Phillips, an Epstein survivor, emphasized that many women came forward through local police channels only to be ignored. The Metropolitan Police have stated they are now fully engaged with the National Police Chiefs’ Council group established to review the comprehensive Epstein files, but critics argue that this cooperation comes years too late.
The sustained failure of multiple national law enforcement agencies to act on specific, actionable financial and testimonial evidence suggests a systemic breakdown in cross-border cooperation, one that is only now being fully unmasked as institutional reputations begin to crumble under the weight of newly surfaced evidence.