Former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland has been charged with "corruption" in connection with American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, police said.

The charges were filed after the Council of Europe lifted Jagland's immunity. His lawyer said the prime minister had not committed any crime and was ready to cooperate.

Epstein-related emails released by the US government indicate that Jagland visited Epstein's properties in Paris, New York and Palm Beach, both alone and with his family.

At the time of Jagland's visit, Epstein was convicted of child sex crimes.

The Norwegian criminal investigation agency Okokrim announced that it had raided three of Jagland's homes and said it would be responding to inquiries at the Glasweg station.

Jagland served as prime minister from 1996 to 1997 and was also head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

He also served as secretary general of the Council of Europe for many years.

He has been granted immunity as the secretary general of the European Council on Democracy and Human Rights, a body that monitors the country's human rights situation.

Okokrim has asked for his immunity to be lifted after an investigation began this month into alleged corruption between 2011 and 2018.