Two Tracks, One Week: What the Met Has and Has Not Confirmed on Walliams

London's Metropolitan Police have opened a criminal investigation into David Walliams over allegations of serious sexual offences, the force confirmed this week. The Met said it had received a number of allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences involving a man now in his 50s, and that those who came forward are being supported by specialist officers.

Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney urged anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to come forward and speak to police, no matter when it happened.

The police investigation is separate from a joint ITV News and The Guardian report published this week, which detailed accusations of sexual assault and grooming by several women. Some of those women allege they were as young as 15 when the interactions took place.

Russell Brand was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison after being found guilty of one rape and three sexual assaults at Southwark Crown Court. He was cleared on three other counts. The Met has confirmed Brand is under investigation for two more alleged rapes, and The Times reported that at least six more women have accused him of predatory behaviour and misconduct.

Brand's guilt on four counts is a matter of court record.

What the week does show is that historical sexual-offence allegations against well-known British men are being pursued simultaneously through criminal investigation and through journalism, and that the two tracks can run in parallel without being the same thing. The Met's own statement points victims toward specialist support regardless of when an offence is said to have occurred.

What happens next depends on the police inquiry.