Quentin Tarantino has admitted knowing allegations about Harvey Weinstein long before dozens of women came forward to accuse the movie mogul of sexual assaults and harassment.

The director, who has worked closely with the now disgraced producer for over two decades, apologised for not taking action sooner, The New York Times reported on Thursday.

“I knew enough to do more than I did,” he told the newspaper that published the bombshell investigation against Weinstein.

Harvey Weinstein
Harvey Weinstein has been accused by dozens of women of sexual assault and harassment (John Stillwell/PA)

“I wish I had taken responsibility for what I heard,” he added. “If I had done the work I should have done then, I would have had to not work with him.”

The Pulp Fiction director, 54, said he “knew he did a couple of these things”, adding that it was “impossible” anyone close to Weinstein did not.

The report stated that among the cases Tarantino was aware of, was actress Rose McGowan reaching a settlement with the producer.

Tarantino, who has worked with Weinstein on films ranging from 1992’s Reservoir Dogs to 2009’s Inglourious Basterds, called for Hollywood to stop tolerating despicable actions by men.

Harvey Weinstein with Gwyneth Paltrow, one of the stars to accuse him of sexual harassment (Yui Mok/PA)

“We allowed it to exist because that’s the way it was,” he said.

The interview was published as another woman came forward to accuse Weinstein, with the Los Angeles Police Department saying it was investigating a report of sexual assault in 2013.

In the UK, the Metropolitan Police is investigating five allegations against him, spanning from the late 1980s to 2015.

Weinstein, 65, meteorically fell from grace after the claims were made public and has had ties severed with his own firm, The Weinstein Company.

He has “unequivocally denied” allegations of non-consensual sex through his spokeswoman.