UK police leaders say they are in contact with overseas law enforcement agencies as they assess millions of documents released by the US Justice Department in connection with Jeffrey Epstein, warning that cross-border information sharing can be 'extremely complex.'
The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said it has established a national co-ordination group to support the small number of forces reviewing allegations linked to the material, asUK investigators pursue inquiries that have intensified since the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
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In a statement issued on Wednesday, the NPCC said its national co-ordination group was working with the National Crime Agency to provide specialist support for forces 'seeking information from overseas law enforcement agencies through approved channels.'
The spokesperson said the work was intended to help forces 'understand any potential impact arising from the millions of documents that have been made public.'
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The NPCC cautioned that the scale of the release and the legal hurdles involved could slow progress. 'It may take some time due to the volume of material and the complexity of international jurisdictions, but policing and its law enforcement partners are taking this matter extremely seriously, and will assess all information thoroughly,' the spokesperson said.
They added that transferring evidence and documents across borders is rarely straightforward. 'The sharing of documents related to overseas criminal investigations between law enforcement agencies in different countries is an extremely complex process, and not straightforward,' the spokesperson said.
NBC News reported that the US Justice Department has not confirmed whether any discussions have taken place or whether any information has been provided to UK authorities.
The report said the US and UK have a mutual legal assistance agreement that allows foreign authorities to request information via the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs, though the US is under no obligation to share potentially criminal findings with foreign governments.
Source: International Business Times UK
