Epsom Methodist Church, Ashley Road — where the alleged attack is said to have taken place on 11 April 2026
✅ Case closed 23 April — No offence occurred, no suspects
Surrey Police have concluded the investigation. A woman sustained an accidental head injury before making a confused report. The woman has consented to this information being shared.
Epsom Rape Investigation: Full Summary & Live Updates
A woman in her 20s reported being raped outside Epsom Methodist Church on 11 April 2026. Surrey Police have now closed the investigation, confirming no sexual offence occurred. The woman sustained an accidental head injury before making a confused report. This page is a full record of how the story unfolded.
✅ Investigation Closed — 23 April 2026
Final update · No offence occurred · No suspects
Surrey Police have concluded their investigation and confirmed that no sexual offence took place. The investigation has been formally closed.
A thorough investigation — including an extensive examination of CCTV footage of the woman's movements, house-to-house enquiries, witness interviews, and forensic tests — has been carried out. Through this examination of all evidence, police can conclude that no sexual offence occurred on this occasion.
What has become clear is that a woman in her 20s, during a night out in Epsom, sustained an accidental head injury prior to making a confused report. The woman has given Surrey Police permission to share this information, and she continues to be supported by relevant services.
"We take every report of sexual offending seriously, and any such report is treated with sensitivity. To do this, it is imperative that the appropriate time is allowed to complete a thorough investigation and support is given to the complainant to progress enquiries at their own pace. This limits what information we are able to release publicly."— Surrey Police statement, 23 April 2026
Surrey Police acknowledged that the lack of suspect descriptions in their initial appeal caused concern in the community. They explained that descriptions given at the time were vague and limited — but confirmed: "We are now confident that there was no offence, and there were no suspects."
Local officers will maintain a visible presence in Epsom over the coming days for residents with concerns or questions.
🚨 PCC Condemns "Shameful" Disorder — 21 April 2026
Latest update · 4 arrests made
Four arrests were made after violence broke out in Epsom on Monday night (20 April). Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend condemned the scenes as "shameful", stating those responsible should expect to face "the full force of the law".
Incidents included missiles thrown at police officers and hotels and homes being targeted. Townsend noted many of those involved were not local residents, and blamed misinformation online — including false claims that asylum seekers were being housed at locations targeted during the disorder.
"The mindless scenes we witnessed last night where our police officers were targeted with missiles were nothing short of shameful. While I support the right to lawful protest, some people stepped way beyond that line."— Lisa Townsend, Surrey PCC
Townsend reiterated: "Surrey Police has said there is no evidence this case involves asylum seekers or immigrants. But clearly this does not suit the narrative some want to push." She said misinformation online had "made a difficult situation even worse".
Her message to those "intent on stirring up trouble under the guise of legitimate protest" was clear: stay away. Officers are continuing to review footage to identify further suspects.
Epsom Methodist Church closed early amid the protests for safety reasons. Reverend Catherine Hutton urged calm: "We call for people to be respectful of one another and to afford each other the dignity that we ourselves would wish to receive." She added: "Epsom's an amazing place, it's resilient and full of good people that are hopeful and loving and generous and kind."
🚔 Surrey Police Update — 20 April 2026, 2:11pm
Latest statement
Following on from the update provided on Friday in relation to the report of a rape in Epsom in the early hours of Saturday, 11 April, Surrey Police have shared further information.
Police continue to engage with local communities, with officers remaining in Epsom to provide reassurance and to answer any concerns or questions residents may have. The increased police presence in the town on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings was specifically to address concerns about women's safety.
Enquiries remain ongoing. These enquiries have included reviewing an extensive amount of CCTV footage from the area, carrying out forensic investigations and conducting house-to-house enquiries. To date, police have not found any evidence that the offence took place as reported.
Surrey Police say they are aware of reports of groups organising gatherings in the wake of last week's report, and will continue to work with those seeking to protest, along with partners and the local community, to ensure everyone's views can be heard.
"While we respect the right to lawful protest and will always aim to balance the rights of all parties involved, criminal offences and public disorder will not be tolerated, and we will always take robust action against anyone who commits a criminal offence."
Surrey Police have confirmed they will continue to provide regular updates throughout the week as the investigation progresses.
🚔 Surrey Police Official Statement (17 April 2026, 6:25pm)
Surrey Police released a significant update on the investigation. To date, police have not found any evidence of the offense as reported, representing a major shift from initial reports and public speculation.
Police Statement Transcript:
"We bring you a further update following a report of a rape in Epsom in the early hours of Saturday the 11th of April.
Over the past week, there has been widespread speculation and commentary regarding this report. We are aware of the strength of feeling this has created and of the frustration caused by our limited public comment on the matter.
During this time, we have been investigating in depth to establish the sequence of events and to clarify the circumstances surrounding the reported incident. We have been reviewing an extensive amount of CCTV footage from the area. We've also been interviewing potential witnesses, carrying out forensic investigations, and conducting house-to-house inquiries.
To date, we have not found any evidence of the offense as reported, but the investigation is ongoing.
There has been much speculation about the non-release of a description of any suspects, especially regarding the ethnicity. No descriptions have been released as the information about the incident and potential suspects is so limited. To address the specific commentary: There is no evidence that asylum seekers or immigrants were involved.
If you have any information or any CCTV, dash cam, or helmet camera footage, please contact us online or via 101.
We appreciate that you want information. We will continue to tell you as much as we can to engage with you, to reassure you, and to address concerns. We ask for space and time to work through the investigation.
There will be an increased police presence in Epsom over the weekend. Thank you."
⚠️ Key Finding: This statement contradicts earlier reports and represents a significant development in the investigation.
Police warning on speculation
Surrey Police are urging the public not to speculate online about suspect descriptions, as this could increase tensions and seriously hinder the investigation.
What Was Reported
In the early hours of Saturday 11 April 2026, a woman in her 20s alleged she was raped by several men outside Epsom Methodist Church on Ashley Road, after leaving the nearby Labyrinth Epsom nightclub.
The alleged attack is said to have taken place between 2am and 4am. The woman reported to Surrey Police that several men followed her after she left the nightclub along Spread Eagle Walk before the alleged assault outside the church. The church is less than a minute's walk from the nightclub.
The Alleged Victim
The alleged victim is a woman in her 20s. She is being supported by a specialist Sexual Offences Liaison Officer from Surrey Police.
Labyrinth Bar & Club, Epsom — the nightclub the victim is alleged to have left before the attack
Police are reviewing CCTV footage from the Ashley Road area and surrounding streets
The Police Investigation
Officers have been reviewing CCTV footage, carrying out house-to-house enquiries and speaking to witnesses as part of ongoing efforts to identify those responsible. However, detectives say they do not yet have sufficient information to release descriptions of the suspects.
Assistant Chief Constable for Local Policing Sarah Grahame confirmed that police had reviewed extensive CCTV footage, interviewed potential witnesses, conducted forensic investigations, and carried out house-to-house enquiries — and that to date, no evidence of the offence as reported had been found.
"We understand this is an extremely distressing incident and the victim is being supported by specialist officers. Our investigation is in its early stages and a team of officers have been conducting extensive enquiries today to identify and locate the suspects."— Detective Inspector Aine Matthews, Surrey Police
"I understand the distress and concern that this incident has caused, both for the victim herself and amongst our local communities, and I want to reassure you that we are working hard to progress this investigation. While we have already carried out extensive enquiries, we do not have sufficient information at this time to update you with the descriptions of the suspects. It is not yet known how many men were involved in the assault."— Chief Superintendent Mark Chapman, East Surrey
⚠️ As of 16 April 2026: No arrests have been confirmed.
The Protests (15 April 2026)
On Wednesday 15 April, approximately 200–300 protesters gathered in Epsom town centre and High Street, demanding that police release descriptions and mugshots of the suspected attackers. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense as the crowd called for immediate police action.
Frustrated by the lack of suspect information, protesters adopted the chant "release the descriptions" and insisted the public had a right to know who to watch for. Some held placards criticising the police response and calling for transparency.
Police Response & Public Order Units
Surrey Police took the escalating situation seriously, deploying officers in full public order kit—helmets, shields, and protective equipment—shortly before 5pm. The force mobilized trained public order units, causing significant visible police presence on the streets.
The protest turned confrontational when demonstrators blocked the main High Street, preventing traffic flow and causing rush-hour chaos. As evening fell and crowds became more agitated, reports emerged that objects were hurled at police officers, though the exact nature and number of projectiles remained unclear.
The protests were described as intimidating, particularly towards women, with footage emerging showing protesters directly targeting a female police officer.
Dozens of riot-equipped police officers deployed to manage escalating confrontation on Epsom High Street, 15 April 2026
Right-Wing Involvement & Social Media
Daniel Thomas (known online as "Danny Tommo"), a vocal activist with links to right-wing circles and an associate of Tommy Robinson, live-streamed the protest on YouTube, broadcasting the confrontation to his followers in real-time.
Despite calls from some within the crowd for more aggressive action against police, Thomas was notably heard urging restraint and discouraging violence against officers. His intervention may have prevented a more serious escalation.
The live-stream amplified the protest's reach, attracting online commentary from far-right figures and inflaming tensions. Surrey Police later appealed for calm, warning that speculation and misinformation could hinder the investigation and destabilise the community.
Dispersal & Aftermath
The protest gradually dispersed around 8pm, though police maintained a heavy presence in the town centre throughout the evening and into the night. No mass arrests were reported, though officers gathered evidence and witness statements.
The incident highlighted the tension between public demand for transparency and policing best practice. While residents understandably wanted descriptions to identify potential perpetrators, releasing premature or inaccurate descriptions could lead to false accusations, vigilantism, and community tensions along racial or ethnic lines—a risk police were clearly mindful of.
Other Expert Interviews & Analysis
Additional coverage and expert analysis from community leaders:
Official Responses
Statements ordered by most recently updated — last updated 20 April 2026, 2:11pm
Jackie King, Chief Executive — Epsom & Ewell Borough Council
"I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear of the serious assault which was reported in the early hours of Saturday morning. On behalf of all council staff and elected members, our thoughts are with the victim, their family and our wider community at this time.
Incidents of this nature have no place in our borough. Epsom & Ewell Borough Council is committed to working with partners — including Surrey Police, Surrey County Council and the North Surrey Domestic Abuse Service, all of whom form part of Epsom & Ewell's Community Safety Partnership — along with other agencies, to tackle violence against women and girls and to put measures in place that help keep women and girls safe.
Our work in this area will not be finished until every woman and girl in Epsom & Ewell is safe in their homes, on our streets and in our parks, across our borough.
I understand that members of our community will feel concerned, unsettled and angry. It is important that we come together as a community, support one another and avoid speculation or the spread of unverified information which can cause additional harm and possibly hinder the investigation. Epsom and Ewell is a strong and caring community. By standing together, supporting those affected and enabling the authorities to do their work we will all play our part.
I thank Surrey Police, who are working diligently to establish the sequence of events and to clarify the circumstances and the details of those involved in the incident.
If you were in the area around Ashley Road, Epsom Methodist Church, or Labyrinth nightclub between 2am and 4am on Saturday morning, if you saw or spoke to a woman in her 20s in distress in this area, or you have any CCTV, dashcam, or helmet cam footage of this area during this timeframe, please contact Surrey Police quoting PR/45260041426 or by using the online form on the Surrey Police website: surrey.police.uk"
Chief Superintendent Mark Chapman — East Surrey
Chapman struck a careful balance—acknowledging public anger while defending the police decision not to release suspect descriptions prematurely:
"I want to reassure you that we are working hard to progress this investigation. While we have already carried out extensive enquiries, we do not have sufficient information at this time to update you with the descriptions of the suspects."
"I appreciate that this causes increased concern, and I can assure you that we will update you with these descriptions as soon as we are able to do so. In the meantime, I would urge people not to speculate about the descriptions of these suspects as this may lead to additional tensions within our local communities."
"I appreciate that the significant police presence in the town may have caused concern. Our priority was to ensure the safety of the wider public, as well as the safety of those involved in the protest. We respect the right to lawful protest and will facilitate this wherever possible where it is safe to do so. However, criminal offences and public disorder will not be tolerated, and we will always take robust action against anyone who commits a criminal offence."
Helen Maguire MP — "Let the Police Do Their Work"
Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom & Ewell, balancing support for peaceful protest with firm condemnation of disruption and intimidation:
"While I support peaceful protest and understand that members of our community are rightly angry after the appalling assault on a young woman, those who are turning to disruption and intimidation cannot be allowed to do so. Behaviour such as damaging police vehicles, blocking key roads, and intimidating officers is completely unacceptable."
"To those who have come into Epsom from outside our community to spread division and cause disruption: take it elsewhere. It won't be tolerated here. Epsom is a compassionate and united community. Let's show it."
"The victim is being supported by specialist officers. Gathering evidence in cases as serious and sensitive as this takes time—it is a complex process, and it is right that police are given the time and space to do it properly. If you want justice for this young woman, the best thing you can do is let the police do their work."
Key Facts at a Glance
Date of alleged attack
11 April 2026, 2am–4am
Location
Epsom Methodist Church, Ashley Road
Alleged victim
Woman in her 20s
Arrests
None confirmed (as of 16 Apr)
Suspect descriptions
Not yet released
Police patrols
Increased in town centre
Investigation formally closed
Surrey Police have concluded their enquiries. There are no suspects and no further information to report. Local officers remain in Epsom if residents have concerns.
Why Police Are Cautious: Learning from Southport
The police decision to withhold suspect descriptions has prompted debate about transparency. However, it reflects lessons learned from previous high-profile cases—most notably the Southport attack in July 2024.
When Axel Rudakubana was arrested for killing three young girls and injuring multiple others at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside Police was widely criticised for not immediately releasing details of his ethnicity and background. Within hours, misinformation spread online claiming the suspect was a teenage asylum seeker who arrived by boat—claims that were completely false.
It later emerged that Rudakubana was actually born in Cardiff to parents from Rwanda. But by then, the false narrative had spread across social media, inflaming tensions and fuelling divisive speculation for months.
In August 2024, the National Police Chief's Council (NPCC) released interim guidance encouraging police to share ethnicity and nationality of suspects to combat misinformation. However, this guidance also emphasises that only accurate, fully verified information should be released—premature descriptions can be worse than no description at all.
In the Epsom case, Surrey Police's refusal to speculate appears to reflect this cautious approach: releasing unconfirmed details risks fuelling vigilantism, false arrests, and community tensions along ethnic or racial lines.
Faith Community & Church Response
Reverend Catherine Hutton (3rd left) speaking to the media outside Epsom Methodist Church in Ashley Road, Surrey, following the alleged rape. PA
While protesters took to the streets, the local faith community mobilised support for the alleged victim and the wider community. Epsom Methodist Church—the location where the alleged attack is said to have occurred—held a "community act" on 15 April 2026 specifically to "raise our voices for women who are vulnerable and all who are victimised."
The church's initiative, led by Reverend Catherine Hutton, provided an alternative channel for community expression. Hutton described Epsom as a "diverse, tolerant community" that was being unfairly disrupted, and whilst she supported the right to protest, stated the events had "gone too far." She also believed that many of the protesters had travelled from outside Epsom rather than being local residents.
This investigation is now closed
Surrey Police confirmed on 23 April 2026 that no offence occurred. This page is a complete record of the events as they unfolded. For the official Surrey Police statement, visit surrey.police.uk.