Scotland Yard will not reopen its investigation into sex-trafficking allegations made by Prince Andrew's accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre.

Key points: Specialist Crime Commander Alex Murray said the MPS was not the appropriate authority to conduct enquiries

Specialist Crime Commander Alex Murray said the MPS was not the appropriate authority to conduct enquiries The MPS statement comes ahead of a feature interview with Ms Giuffre to air on BBC Panorama next week

The MPS statement comes ahead of a feature interview with Ms Giuffre to air on BBC Panorama next week Mr Murray said they reviewed their decision-making following Jeffrey Epstein's death but did not change their position

Ms Giuffre claimed she was trafficked as a 17-year-old by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and forced to have sex with the Duke of York at a London apartment in March 2001.

The Duke denies the allegation.

On Thursday (local time), the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) released a statement saying it would not be reopening an investigation into an "allegation of non-recent trafficking for sexual exploitation" that it first received in July 2015.

"The allegation was made against a US national, Jeffrey Epstein, and a British woman," Specialist Crime Commander Alex Murray said.

Prince Andrew, Virginia Roberts, and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2001. ( Supplied )

Mr Murray said officers interviewed Ms Giuffre at the time as well as assessed available evidence and advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.

"Following the legal advice, it was clear that any investigation into human trafficking would be largely focused on activities and relationships outside the UK," the statement read.

"We therefore concluded that the MPS was not the appropriate authority to conduct enquiries in these circumstances and, in November 2016, a decision was made that this matter would not proceed to a full criminal investigation.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre will speak in a feature interview to air on BBC Panorama next week. ( AP: Bebeto Matthews )

"In August 2019, following the death of Jeffrey Epstein, the MPS reviewed the decision making and our position remains unchanged.

"The MPS has liaised with other law enforcement organisations but has not received a formal request asking for assistance in connection with this allegation."

The statement comes ahead of a BBC Panorama special titled "The Prince and the Epstein Scandal", which will air on Monday evening UK time and feature an interview with Ms Giuffre, who is now 36.

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Last week Prince Andrew was forced to step down from public duties "for the foreseeable future" after a damaging BBC interview about his relationship with convicted sex offender Epstein.

Epstein was found dead in his New York prison cell in August while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.