The Metropolitan Police has said it has received ‘a number of allegations of sexual assault in London’ following news reports about comedian Russell Brand.
Detectives have now launched an investigation into allegations of past sexual offences.
It comes after a lengthy investigation into the Get Him to the Greek actor by Channel 4 and The Times, which made allegations public in a Dispatches special one week ago.
Brand has denied allegations of rape, sexual assault, and controlling behaviour over a seven-year period at the height of his fame, saying that while he was ‘promiscuous’ at the time, any encounters were ‘consensual’.
However, more alleged victims have come forward over recent days, with one woman saying she was just 16 when Brand sexually assaulted her.
The Met has also received a number of allegations of sexual offences committed elsewhere in the country and will investigate these.
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These offences are all non-recent.
Officers will be offering specialist support to all of the women who have made allegations.
The investigation is being carried out by detectives in the Met’s Central Specialist Crime Command, led by Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy.
Supt Furphy said: ‘We continue to encourage anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a sexual offence, no matter how long ago it was, to contact us.
‘We understand it can feel like a difficult step to take and I want to reassure that we have a team of specialist officers available to advise and support.’
There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.
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Anyone who wants to report an offence should contact police on 101, but dial 999 in an emergency.
Shortly after the Met issued its short statement, Brand made his first return to his regular Rumble show since the allegations were made against him.
Meanwhile, the star’s career has taken a series of knocks since allegations came to light.
His UK and Australian tours have been cancelled, he has been dropped by his management, and the BBC and Channel 4 have launched their own investigations into his behaviour while working on their shows.
Brand stepped down from his two businesses, had his YouTube channel demonetised, and celebrity pals have cut ties.
Those who were once close to Brand have also spoken out, with a former classmate accusing him of ‘groping’ a female classmate under what he called a ‘cloak of love’ when attending a performing arts college in the 1990s.
In his latest address to his online followers, Brand thanked his community for their ‘support’.
Taking to social media over the weekend to break his silence after lying low, the controversial podcaster said the week since the claims were published had been ‘extraordinary’ and ‘distressing’.
He said: ‘I thank you very much for your support and for questioning the information that you’ve been presented with.’
Brand also promoted his platform on Rumble – a right-wing, online video platform that refused to follow YouTube in blocking the comedian from advertising revenue on its site.
He described the streaming site as having made a ‘clear commitment to free speech’.
Brand added that he never imagined that he would need his followers’ support as much as he does now.
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‘And I need your support now, more than ever, and more than I ever imagined I would,’ he said.
‘So, follow me, support our channel if you can, if it’s within your means, but more important than any of that is that you please, if you can, stay free.’
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