BREAKING: Met Police give update on Russell Brand sex assault allegations

The Met Police says it has received 'a number of allegations of sexual assault in London' and elsewhere following news reports about comedian Russell Brand. In a statement the force said: "Detectives have launched an investigation into allegations of sexual offences.

"Following an investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Sunday Times, the Met has received a number of allegations of sexual offences in London. We have also received a number of allegations of sexual offences committed elsewhere in the country and will investigate these.

"The 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."

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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. Anyone who wants to report an offence to the police should contact us on 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency."

It comes as allegations were made about comedian Russell Brand, 48, during Channel 4's explosive Dispatches documentary, which came from a joint investigation with The Times and Sunday Times. He was accused of rape, sexual