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Police in London have confirmed that they have launched an investigation into a number of sexual offence allegations after urging potential victims of the comedian Russell Brand to come forward.
Brand was accused of rape, assault and emotional abuse between 2006 and 2013 in a joint investigation by Channel 4 News and The Times in the U.K. earlier this month. He denies all of the allegations and says his relationships have always been consensual.
Following the publication of the allegations, police received one report of alleged sexual assault from 2003 and encouraged anyone else with information to contact them. Without naming Brand, on Monday the Metropolitan police said it had received a number of allegations of sexual offences in London. A spokesperson added: “We have also received a number of allegations of sexual offences committed elsewhere in the country and will investigate these.”
The offences were all non-recent, the spokesperson added, while explaining that the women who have made the allegations will receive specialist support. No arrests have been made at the time of writing.
Brand, who is a popular figure on the right and in conspiracy theory circles, has had his YouTube channel demonetised following the allegations. He continues to stream on Rumble, though advertisers have removed their support from his channel.