Handling of Al Fayed abuse allegations to be investigated by police watchdog

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has announced it will investigate Metropolitan Police officers’ handling of reports of sexual abuse and rape made against former Harrods owner, Mohamed Al Fayed. 

At least twenty-one individuals are known to have made reports to the Met Police, with multiple complaints having since been brought about the way officers approached their investigations, the IOPC confirmed. The independent watchdog is due to review two of these cases, from 2008 and 2013 respectively.

Having been approached by the IOPC for ‘any conduct issues that would require a referral’, the Met Police are understood to have volunteered these two files for investigation. The stated aim of this self-referral is to ‘address concerns about the quality of police response’ following allegations made against Al Fayed. 

The London police force previously stated they had directed ten of the twenty-one complaints they received to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). These referrals were to be assessed, on an evidential basis, for the prospect of taking action against Al-Fayed. However, the CPS have confirmed investigations into only four cases referred by the Met. 

This development comes as just the latest in a wave of allegations of sexual assault, abuse and rape by Al Fayed at the Harrods Knightsbridge store, the Ritz Hotel in Paris, and a number of Al Fayed’s private residences. Several hundred women are understood to have come forward so far to make their experience of abuse heard, with the earliest allegations made to the police believed to date from 1995. 

The Harrods company have since confirmed they are due to settle over 290 compensation claims made against the store.   

Just last week new allegations also emerged against Mohamed Al Fayed’s brother, Salah, with group Justice for Harrods Survivors announcing they had ‘credible evidence’ linking Salah Al Fayed to the web of assaults. Salah Al Fayed died in 2010 as a result of pancreatic cancer, while Mohamed Al Fayed died more recently in August 2023.

Following these recent revelations about the apparent extent of abuse, and in light of their self-referral to the police watchdog, the Met Police have now announced they will conduct a ‘detailed and thorough’ review of all allegations made against Al Fayed, new or historic. The force hopes to establish whether criminal punishment can be pursued against any living individuals who may be connected to the abuse.

Here at Jordans, we recognise that abuse can have a lifelong impact on survivors, and would encourage anyone who was abused to seek support, and consider reporting their experience to the police. We have an experienced and dedicated team who specialise in representing victims of abuse.

We have the knowledge and experience to advise you on the available options for pursuing a Criminal Injuries Compensation Claim or civil damages claim.

If would like to speak to one of our Specialist Abuse Lawyers in confidence, please do not hesitate to contact us by telephoning 0800 955 5094 or 0330 300 1103.