Scotland Yard Refers Itself to IOPC Over Markle Allegations
Metropolitan Police admits failure to share claims of alleged criminal conduct against Thomas Markle Sr. with overseas agencies.
Sarah Connor
Scotland Yard has voluntarily reported itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
The referral concerned the Metropolitan Police's handling of allegations against Thomas Markle Sr. The force received correspondence in January 2019, detailing claims of alleged criminal conduct outside the UK.
Instead of alerting overseas agencies, the Metropolitan Police handed the letter directly to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards later conducted an internal examination into the handling of this correspondence.
The Metropolitan Police admits it failed to share the claims with other global law-enforcement agencies. Commander Adam Slonecki confirmed the force plans to share the allegations with relevant overseas law enforcement agencies. He stated, "While the letter did not actually contain any information specifically related to security matters, it did contain a number of claims about alleged offending outside the United Kingdom."
The original 2019 letter, written by Roslyn Loveless, contained serious claims against Thomas Markle, accusing him of being a paedophile. The Met reportedly misplaced this letter and had to ask Meghan for a copy.
Separately, Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, reported their father to the FBI and the police in the Philippines. Philippine police have obtained a warrant to search devices from Mr Markle Sr's former home.
Meghan says she was given 'assurances' at the time that the revolting allegations were being investigated. She is upset and frustrated by the force's response.
The accusations are sick lies.
Thomas Markle Sr. has categorically denied possessing child sexual abuse images, telling the Daily Mail the accusations are "sick lies." He denies being a paedophile and denies sleeping with under-age girls.
However, Mr Markle Sr's son claimed to have found child sexual abuse images on devices from his father's former home. Commander Adam Slonecki added that the process of sharing allegations "is underway and will be completed in the coming days."