The police watchdog is investigating the handling of sex abuse allegations made against social media influencer Andrew Tate.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is looking at how Hertfordshire Constabulary dealt with the allegations after the case was closed in 2019, following a four-year probe.

It added it was investigating a former detective constable for gross misconduct, relating to alleged failures to investigate, and two former detective sergeants who supervised the investigation.

The reports were made by three women, who all allege the professional kickboxer used sexual violence against them.

'We are grateful'

In a joint statement issued by their legal team, they said: "We are grateful that the IOPC has taken steps to investigate potential issues with how our reports were handled.

"From the beginning, all we have wanted is for our cases and the evidence to be fully and fairly considered by those with the power to do so."

An IOPC spokesperson said :"We are independently investigating the actions and decision making of Hertfordshire Constabulary following multiple reports of sexual offending by a man, which was first reported to the force in 2015.

"Our investigation began following a voluntary conduct referral from the force in December 2023.

"As part of our investigation, we are investigating a former detective constable for potential gross misconduct, relating to alleged failures to properly investigate, and two former detective sergeants at the level of misconduct, who supervised the investigation."

Civil trial

Tate's three alleged victims have since taken their claims to the High Court, alongside a fourth woman who also alleges he used sexual violence against them.

The civil trial is due to take place in June this year.

According to court documents, the influencer is accused of holding a gun to a woman's face before saying "you're going to do as I say or there'll be hell to pay".

One of the claimants also alleges Tate assaulted her with a belt, and grabbed her by the throat on multiple occasions, in 2015.

According to the documents, other alleged victims said he strangled them during sex while saying things like "I'm just debating whether to rape you or not" and "who do you belong to?".

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Denial

Tate's lawyers have previously denied the claims, describing the allegations as "false" and that they "were not controlled and did not behave as though they were controlled" by him.

A spokesperson for the influencer also said, at the time, that the allegations outlined in the documents are "unproven and untested".

The legal team of the three women who reported alleged abuse to police, McCue Jury & Partners, said the Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) decision not to authorise charges in the case is currently the subject of a victim's right to review.

(c) Sky News 2026: Police watchdog investigating handling of Andrew Tate sex abuse allegations