The most senior official in London’s police force said on Friday that he “wouldn’t be surprised if more people came forward” to the police to discuss accusations against Russell Brand.
The official, Mark Rowley, the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, made the comment during a BBC radio interview one day after a London jury convicted Brand, 51, of one count of rape, and three counts of sexual assault.
Shortly after the convictions were announced on Thursday, the London police said in a statement that officers had questioned Brand about two further accusations of rape and submitted files to prosecutors. Brand has also faced a civil action in the United States.
Rowley was asked about Brand’s conviction in the BBC interview.
“We’ve got two other rape investigations continuing and I wouldn’t be surprised if more people came forward,” he said, without stating whether he believed those people would be complainants or witnesses or what types of offenses they might discuss.
Rowley then praised “the bravery” of the women who participated in the trial, and said that its outcome should show survivors of sexual assault and rape that “you will be believed, you will be supported.”
A representative for Brand did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The former comedy and movie star repeatedly said during the trial that he had never had nonconsensual sex.
On Thursday, the jury also found Brand not guilty of two other counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Rowley was also asked about the tactics used by Ian Winter, Brand’s lawyer, during the trial. When questioning the women in court, Winter asked them on several occasions why they had not fought back against Brand or shouted for help.
The lawyer said in his closing statement that none of the women had “resisted or screamed or even tried to leave.” Rowley said that what he had “heard reported” came “very close to victim blaming.”
Winter did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said that Rowley was not available for further comment.
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