Scotland Yard is currently facing mounting pressure to initiate a criminal probe into Prince Andrew following his request for a police bodyguard to gather incriminating information on Virginia Giuffre.

Former head of the Met’s royalty protection unit, Dai Davies, has called for the force to interrogate the prince under caution, especially if evidence emerges that he encouraged a police officer to engage in misconduct in public office.

The Mail on Sunday disclosed that Andrew sought assistance from his publicly-funded police protection officer to look into Jeffrey Epstein’s victim, Virginia Giuffre, providing her date of birth and confidential social security number as part of this request.

Recently uncovered documents indicate that Andrew aimed to have Met officers unearth damaging details in an effort to discredit his young accuser. This attempt came just hours before a damning photograph surfaced in 2011, depicting him alongside the 17-year-old.

It was revealed that the prince informed Ed Perkins, then the Queen’s deputy press secretary, about his directive to a member of the Met’s elite SO14 Royalty Protection Group to conduct the investigation.

In a note, Andrew stated: “It would also seem she has a criminal record in the States. I have provided her DoB [date of birth] and social security number for investigation with XXX, the on-duty PPO [personal protection officer].”

It has not been suggested that the officer complied with the prince’s request, while Ms Giuffre’s family said she did not have a criminal record.

On Sunday, the force launched an urgent internal inquiry. A Met spokesman said: ‘We are actively looking into the claims made.’

Scotland Yard is under pressure to launch a criminal investigation into Prince Andrew (left) after he asked a police bodyguard to dig up dirt on Virginia Giuffre, whom he is pictured with

Newly released documents reveal Andrew (above) wanted Met officers to find damaging information in an apparent campaign to smear his teenage sex accuser

But it could take weeks for officers to trawl through emails and police logs from 14 years ago to see if Andrew’s principal protection officer or any of the back-up team made any inquiries about Ms Giuffre.

Mr Davies said the email may constitute a criminal offence even if the officer did not act.

He said: ‘It is time for Scotland Yard to launch a full criminal investigation into Prince Andrew.

‘Asking a police officer to investigate an alleged victim is outside of their duties, whether that is calling the FBI, your mates in the US, or searching out themselves to find out whether someone has a criminal offence. That is, in my view, a criminal offence.

‘Asking a public servant, that includes anyone from the Palace or police, to commit those inquiries is inciting them, aiding and abetting them to commit misconduct in public office. It should be investigated and he should be interviewed under caution.

‘This is a serious matter. Police protection officers are not there to investigate, they are there to protect. The question is was this request carried out by anyone and if so, was there any attempt to pervert the course of justice?

‘There are also questions for the chain of command – who knew that he had made this request and why was it not reported?’

Details of the shocking email come after Andrew was forced to relinquish his remaining titles.

Details of the shocking email come after Andrew (above) was forced to relinquish his remaining titles

The email cache currently with the US Congress also reveals that Andrew acknowledged he might have met Ms Giuffre and that a damning photograph could exist, despite claiming he had no memory of meeting her.

Senior Labour MP Ed Miliband told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: ‘These are deeply concerning allegations. I think people want to look at those allegations and what the substance is behind them. But if that is correct, that is absolutely not the way that close protection officers should be used.’

Barrister Charlotte Proudman, who has represented victims of domestic and sexual abuse, branded Andrew’s actions ‘utterly despicable and reprehensible’.

She said: ‘This shows Prince Andrew using his connections, including the police who are paid for by the taxpayer, in an attempt to dig up dirt on a survivor of sex trafficking. It is just despicable. This should be investigated.’

Broadcaster Emily Maitlis, who grilled Andrew in his infamous 2019 Newsnight interview, said she was ‘glad’ the police were probing the claims.

‘I think if there have been people responsible for trying to make her life even more unbearable than it was, then I would like to see justice done,’ she added.

Ms Giuffre’s posthumous memoirs, which are due out tomorrow, have intensified the focus on her sexual assault allegations, which Andrew denies.

Ms Giuffre, who took her own life earlier this year, claimed that paedophile Epstein trafficked her to London and forced her to have sex with the prince – allegations Andrew has repeatedly and vehemently denied.