One Rule for the Powerful, Another for Women: Why the Met’s Decision on Prince Andrew Exposes Deep Inequality

The Metropolitan Police’s decision not to pursue charges against Prince Andrew over allegations that he abused his position by attempting to use a publicly funded police protection officer to investigate and discredit his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, raises serious questions about equality before the law, institutional misogyny, and public confidence in policing.

According to widely reported accounts, Prince Andrew sought to involve his Metropolitan Police protection officer in activities that went far beyond the remit of public protection, including contact relating to Ms Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse. The Met ultimately concluded that there was insufficient evidence to justify criminal charges. Yet for many women, campaigners, and legal observers, this decision reinforces a familiar and deeply troubling pattern: powerful men are treated with extraordinary deference, while women who make allegations of abuse are subjected to scrutiny, disbelief, and institutional indifference.

At the heart of this issue is inequality. An ordinary citizen attempting to use a publicly funded police officer for personal purposes, particularly to interfere (directly or indirectly) with an accuser, would almost certainly face investigation and potential prosecution. That this did not happen in a case involving a senior member of the Royal Family feeds the perception that the criminal justice system operates on a two-tier basis.

This perception matters. Trust in policing depends on the belief that the law applies equally to everyone, regardless of status, wealth, or proximity to power. When the Met appears unwilling to robustly interrogate the actions of elite men, especially in cases connected to allegations of sexual abuse, it reinforces claims that the institution remains structurally misogynistic. Women already face significant barriers when reporting sexual violence: low charge rates, long delays, invasive disclosure demands, and the ever-present fear of not being believed. Decisions like this only compound that harm.

Virginia Giuffre has consistently maintained her account, and while Prince Andrew has denied wrongdoing and settled a related civil case without admitting liability, the wider issue is not about guilt or innocence in a criminal sense. It is about accountability, proportionality, and whether the police are willing to apply the same standards to the powerful as they do to everyone else.

If the Metropolitan Police want to restore public confidence, particularly among women, they must confront these perceptions head-on. Transparency, independent oversight, and a clear commitment to equality before the law are not optional—they are essential. Without them, the message sent is stark: some men are simply too powerful to be properly policed.

Opinion article by The View.