Essex Police review Stansted flights in Epstein files

Essex Police said on 17 February 2026 that it is assessing information about private flights into and out of Stansted Airport after the publication of the US Department of Justice’s Epstein files. The force has made clear that an assessment does not automatically trigger a full criminal investigation.

If you are wondering what “assessing” means in policing terms, think of it as triage. Officers review new material to see whether there is credible information suggesting a crime within their jurisdiction, identify any potential victims and suspects, and decide whether to open a formal investigation or pass details to other agencies.

Context matters here. A BBC investigation in December 2025 found 87 flights linked to Epstein arriving at or departing from UK airports between the early 1990s and 2018, and three British women who allege they were trafficked appearing in flight records and related documents. US lawyers representing hundreds of survivors told the BBC it was “shocking” there had never been a full‑scale UK inquiry.

Since then, the document release in the US has added detail. Writing in the New Statesman last week, former prime minister Gordon Brown urged police to re‑examine whether victims were trafficked to and from Britain, pointing to references to about 90 UK‑related flights, including several after Epstein’s 2008 conviction. Reporting in the Guardian and the Financial Times highlights emails discussing visa arrangements and private‑jet transfers via Stansted.

Stansted Airport says private jets use independent Fixed Base Operators (FBOs), separate from the main terminal. According to statements reported by Sky News and the Guardian, Border Force-not the airport-conducts immigration and customs checks on these arrivals, and private‑jet passengers do not enter the main terminal. The airport adds it does not manage or see passenger arrangements on privately operated aircraft.

What this means for you as a reader: arrivals by private jet are still subject to UK border checks, but they happen in private terminals. Historic passenger records for such flights can be incomplete, so investigators often have to cross‑reference emails, manifests and diaries to build a timeline that stands up in court.

Nationally, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has set up a coordination group to support forces that are reviewing allegations arising from the US document release. As the NPCC has stressed, this is not yet a single national investigation; it is a way to share expertise and request unredacted material from the US efficiently.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) is assessing two issues linked to Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor: a claim that a second woman was sent to the UK for a sexual encounter in 2010, and whether he shared confidential reports from his role as the UK’s trade envoy with Epstein. ITV News and the Guardian report that specialist Crown Prosecution Service lawyers have been consulted during this assessment. Andrew denies any wrongdoing.

It is important to separate allegation from proof. Misconduct in public office is a serious common‑law offence that focuses on a wilful abuse of a public role. During an assessment phase, police weigh whether the legal threshold for a full criminal investigation is met and whether further lines of enquiry are justified.

Separately, the Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in public office over claims he passed market‑sensitive information to Epstein while serving as business secretary in 2009. Officers searched two properties linked to him in Camden and Wiltshire, as reported by the Guardian, ITV News and Sky News. Mandelson says he has done nothing criminal and disputes aspects of the documents; he has apologised to Epstein’s victims for continuing the association. He was dismissed as UK ambassador to the United States in September 2025 after Downing Street cited new information about the depth of that relationship, as covered by major outlets including the Washington Post and PBS.

For clarity on who is doing what: Essex Police are reviewing Stansted flight information; TVP is leading the assessment around Andrew’s alleged conduct and the 2010 claim; the Met is investigating the Mandelson allegations; and Surrey Police has said it is reviewing historic claims said to have happened in its area. The NPCC group exists to support consistent handling across forces.

If you are studying this in class, focus on process and language. “Assessing” signals scoping; “investigation” means formal lines of enquiry; “alleged” protects due process; and “survivors” recognises those who came forward. If you have been affected by sexual abuse, you can contact Rape Crisis or speak to a trusted adult and seek professional support.