Peter Mandelson has publicly criticized the Metropolitan police following his arrest on alleged plans to flee the country. He claims that the arrest was based on unfounded assumptions by the police, who believed he was preparing to leave the UK potentially to evade questions related to sensitive information he is accused of having shared with Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson's lawyers are challenging the police's justification for his arrest and demand evidence supporting their claims, which they categorize as baseless.

Following his arrest, it was revealed that the police had been informed by an unnamed source that Mandelson was planning to travel to the British Virgin Islands. This escalated into action by the Metropolitan police, resulting in Mandelson being taken into custody. After being held overnight, he was released on bail, reportedly expressing his disbelief over the claims made against him, which he termed as 'complete fiction.'

The incident raises significant questions regarding police conduct and the standards of evidence required for making arrests based on speculative claims. It highlights the ongoing scrutiny of the police's operations and methodologies. Given Mandelson's high-profile status and the sensational nature of the allegations, this case could attract further media coverage and public interest.