Metropolitan police refers itself to watchdog over Meghan warning letter

Announcement made as Philippines police investigate suspected child sex abuse images reportedly found at her father’s former home

The Metropolitan police says it has voluntarily referred itself to the official watchdog for failing to pass on a letter detailing allegations against the Duchess of Sussex’s father.

The announcement comes as police in the Philippines investigate suspected child sexual abuse images reportedly found at Thomas Markle Sr’s former home.

Meghan’s half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, told the Sun last week that he found a stash of child sex abuse images belonging to their father at his former home in the Philippines and reported it to local police and the FBI.

Markle Sr has admitted paying for sex in the south-east Asian country but denies possessing illicit material.

The Met said it received a letter in 2019 in which the author suggested “they were writing to raise concerns relating to the security of the Duchess of Sussex”.

The Met said although 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”.

It was passed to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the force said.

It added that – after a review – a voluntary referral had been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct “in respect of the decision not to inform other law enforcement agencies, and the decision to pass the letter to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex”.

Commander Adam Slonecki, who leads the Met’s protection command, said: “In January 2019, the Met received a letter addressed to our protection command, specifically the fixated threats assessment centre.

“The author of the letter suggested they were writing to raise concerns relating to the security of the Duchess of Sussex. 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 letter was assessed and subsequently passed to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their awareness.

“The details of the allegations in the letter were not shared with other law enforcement agencies. In recent days, the Met’s directorate of professional standards has carried out an initial review into our actions following receipt of the letter in 2019.

“Following that review, a voluntary referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in respect of the decision not to inform other law enforcement agencies, and the decision to pass the letter to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

“In addition, it is our intention to make a number of referrals to relevant overseas law enforcement agencies in relation to the allegations contained within the letter. That process is under way and will be completed in the coming days.”