Met Police Refers Itself to Watchdog Over 2019 Thomas Markle Warning Letter
The Metropolitan Police has referred itself to Britain’s police watchdog regarding potential errors in handling a 2019 letter that warned of security dangers to the Duchess of Sussex posed by her father, bbc.com reported.
The 2019 Warning Letter and Police Handling
The Metropolitan Police announced it referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over its handling of the letter received seven years ago. According to The Guardian, the document was allegedly written by Thomas Markle’s first wife and passed to the private office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who were working royals at the time. The letter detailed claims regarding Thomas Markle’s activities in the United States, the Philippines, and Thailand. The force stated it did not investigate the contents because the allegations related to potential unlawful activity overseas. However, the Metropolitan Police acknowledged that it failed to share the letter’s details with other law enforcement agencies.
The force has been unable to locate a copy of the 2019 warning letter within its current systems. To better understand its decision-making from seven years ago, the Metropolitan Police asked the Duchess of Sussex to provide the copy she received, a request she fulfilled, The Guardian reported.
Thomas Markle Sr Denies Child Abuse Allegations
The allegations regarding the letter and potential police failings surfaced publicly a week ago. The developments follow a report by Thomas Markle Jr., who informed authorities in the Philippines about alleged child sexual abuse images found at his father’s former home in the southeast Asian country, according to Town & Country Magazine and The Hollywood Reporter. Thomas Markle Sr., now 82 and living in the United States after a medical repatriation earlier in the year following the amputation of his left leg, has denied any wrongdoing. He told The Daily Mail that the accusations are a bunch of lies.
Noelle Rasmussen, the granddaughter of Thomas Markle Sr., spoke about the allegations in an interview with The Telegraph, noting that her grandmother Roslyn Loveless had previously written to police and child protective services regarding family concerns. Meanwhile, Thomas Markle Jr. stated to The Sun that he felt he had no option but to report the material after finding it.
The Duchess of Sussex released a statement addressing the disclosures, explaining that she received the 2019 letter after it was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection. “I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed,” the Duchess stated, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter and Town & Country Magazine. She added that her decision to keep her children estranged from her father was made solely to protect them.
Watchdog Assesses Metropolitan Police Handling of Communication
The Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed it received a voluntary conduct referral from the Metropolitan Police relating to the handling of the 2019 communication. The watchdog is currently assessing the referral to determine whether to launch an independent investigation or return the matter to the Metropolitan Police for review. Simultaneously, officials and investigators in the Philippines are examining digital images recovered from the property associated with Thomas Markle Sr., while the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also probing the matter.
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