Harvey Weinstein charged with string of sex offences after handing himself into New York police

Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has been charged with a string of sex offences after handing himself in to police in New York.

Weinstein surrendered to authorities at a New York City police station on Friday on sex crime charges, months after the allegations first surfaced.

He has been charged with rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct for incidents involving two victims police confirmed.

Announcing the charges in a statement, the New York Police Department said: "Today, at the NYPD's 1st Precinct, Harvey Weinstein was arrested, processed and charged with rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct for incidents involving two separate women.

"The NYPD thanks these brave survivors for their courage to come forward and seek justice."

The, once incredibly powerful, Hollywood mogul has been accused by scores of women of misconduct but this is the first time he has been charged.

Weinstein has denied all accusations of non-consensual sex.

Upon arriving at the Manhattan police station, the 66-year-old stepped out a black SUV and walked slowly inside.

He did not answer respond to shouts of his name but, at one point, smiled.

He was wearing a black blazer and carrying books under his arm, including Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway Revolution - about musical theatre duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein.

Two police officials spoke anonymously to AP news agency and said the case includes allegations made about an incident that took place in 2004.

The woman, Lucia Evans, was among the first to speak out about the film producer. An official says the charges are likely to include one other victim who has not spoken publicly.

Evans confirmed to The New Yorker that she was pressing charges, saying that it was about "the greater good of humanity, of womankind".

Lawyers for the film producer have said all allegations that he forced himself on women were "entirely without merit."

But more than 70 women have accused the co-founder of the Miramax film studio and Weinstein Co of sexual misconduct, including rape, with some allegations dating back decades.

The accusations, first reported by the New York Times and the New Yorker last year, gave rise to the #MeToo movement in which hundreds of women have publicly accused powerful men in business, government and entertainment of misconduct.

The charges follow a months-long investigation that involved the Manhattan district attorney's office.