British police have re-opened a rape investigation into Andrew Tate after the watchdog announced a probe into the handling of sexual abuse allegations made against the influencer.
Hertfordshire Constabulary first launched an investigation into Tate in 2015 after three women came forward with complaints, but the case was closed in 2019.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) yesterday revealed it was looking into that decision, and said a former detective constable could face gross misconduct proceedings for ‘alleged failures to properly investigate’.
It added that two former detective sergeants, who supervised the investigation, were also being probed for alleged misconduct.
The force today confirmed it has re-opened the initial investigation.
The three women said in a joint statement: ‘It is long overdue for Hertfordshire Constabulary to reopen the investigation into our allegations of rape, sexual abuse and assault by Andrew Tate.
‘We have never stopped our search for justice following what we believe was the police’s failure to adequately investigate what happened between 2013 and 2015.
‘We hope that the mistakes of the past are corrected, and that this is now the path to Tate facing criminal justice.’
British police have re-opened a rape investigation into Andrew Tate
Three women claimed Tate sexually abused them between 2013 and 2015, including holding a gun to one of their faces
The women alleged that Tate sexually abused them between 2013 and 2015.
Court documents show he is accused of holding a gun to a woman’s face before saying ‘you’re going to do as I say or there’ll be hell to pay’.
One of the claimants also alleges Tate assaulted her with a belt and grabbed her by the throat on a number of occasions in 2015.
Another claims he strangled them during sex while saying things such as, ‘I’m just debating whether to rape you or not’ and ‘who do you belong to?’.
After the decision was made not to prosecute, they took their claims to the High Court as a civil case, with the trial due to begin in June.
Tate denies the allegations.
His lawyer, Andrew Ford, told The Sun: ‘This is now the third investigation into the same alleged conduct, dating back more than a decade.
‘On two separate occasions, the Crown Prosecution Service determined that there was insufficient evidence to bring any charge. Those decisions were definitive and reached after full evidential review.
‘The decision to revisit the same allegations again, in the absence of any new and credible evidence, raises serious and legitimate concerns about the integrity of the process. It creates the unavoidable perception that Mr Tate is being subjected to repeated investigation not on the basis of law or evidence, but because of who he is.
‘That is not how a fair and impartial justice system operates.
‘Public confidence in the criminal justice system depends on consistency, finality, and equal treatment under the law. The recycling of historic allegations that have already been twice dismissed by the prosecuting authority undermines those principles.
‘Mr Tate categorically denies all allegations. He will continue to engage with any lawful process. He is entitled to the protection of due process and to be free from repeated attempts to build a case where none has been found to exist.’
This is a breaking news story, more to follow.
