Independent Watchdog to Scrutinize Police Handling of Al Fayed Abuse Claims

An independent police oversight body is scheduled to scrutinize the Metropolitan Police’s management of sexual offense allegations made against Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of Harrods. Specifically, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) will undertake a review of two investigations conducted by the Met Police in 2008 and 2013, following the force’s self-referral. Since the broadcast of the documentary “Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods,” hundreds of individuals have reached out to the BBC regarding Harrods and the billionaire. More than 70 of these contacts originated from women who provided the BBC with their personal accounts of abuse by Al Fayed, encompassing sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape. The Met stated that it had received complaints from two women concerning earlier police investigations. A statement from the Met indicated that these complaints “address concerns about the quality of police response and how details came to be disclosed publicly”. The Met has also indicated that it is currently reviewing all claims reported to it concerning Al Fayed, partly to determine if any allegations of criminality can be pursued against individuals who are still alive. Furthermore, allegations suggest that abuse also occurred at Fulham FC and the Ritz Hotel Paris, in addition to other properties owned by Al Fayed. During September, the BBC documentary presented testimony from former Harrods employees who claimed the billionaire had sexually assaulted or raped them. Following the broadcast of that film, the Met has reported discovering accounts from 21 women who accused Al Fayed between 2005 and his passing in 2023. He was never charged. Last month, the BBC disclosed that, while Al Fayed was alive, the Met forwarded complete evidence files pertaining to just two of the 21 women to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Subsequent to that report, the Met released a statement that suggested it had obtained preliminary investigative advice from the CPS concerning 10 of the women. This type of advice constitutes a formal process where the CPS offers an assessment of a case’s merits after receiving evidence from the police. Nevertheless, the CPS subsequently confirmed to the BBC that it had provided such advice in only four instances, a fact the Met informed the BBC it accepts. Since September of this year, an additional 60 women have approached the Met, while at least 70 have contacted the BBC directly. Last week, the BBC disclosed that the Met had received a sexual assault allegation against Al Fayed from a teenage girl in 1995. This indicates that the Met was informed about Al Fayed a decade earlier than previous statements had acknowledged, which cited 2005 as the earliest date it received an allegation against him. An IOPC spokesperson stated that the office had contacted the Met in September to inquire whether the force had “identified any conduct issues that would require a referral.” In a statement released on Friday, the IOPC confirmed its receipt of two complaint referrals from the Met and affirmed it would “assess the information provided before deciding what further action may be required.” Fulham FC informed the BBC, stating: “We unequivocally condemn all forms of abuse. We remain in the process of establishing whether anyone at the club is or would have been impacted by Mohamed Al Fayed in any manner as described in recent reports.” Ronnie Gibbons, a former captain of Fulham Ladies, claimed she was “groped” twice by Al Fayed and that he attempted to “forcefully” kiss her at his department store in 2000, when she was 20 years old. Gaute Haugenes, who previously managed Fulham’s women’s team, informed the BBC in September that additional measures had been implemented to safeguard female players from Al Fayed. Al Fayed held ownership of Harrods from 1985 to 2010. The current owners of the store have previously expressed being “appalled” by the sexual abuse allegations and have been conducting an investigation since 2023 into whether any existing staff members were implicated. Harrods informed the BBC that it was actively engaged in settling over 250 compensation claims initiated by Al Fayed’s victims. This number has subsequently increased to more than 290. The head of Harrods issued a personal apology following contact from the BBC. Individuals possessing information pertinent to this story are encouraged to make contact via email at MAFinvestigation@bbc.co.uk. Those willing to speak with a BBC journalist are requested to include a contact number. The documentary is titled “Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods.” This BBC investigation examines allegations of rape and attempted rape against Mohamed Al Fayed, the former proprietor of Harrods, posing the question of whether the luxury store shielded a billionaire predator. The program “Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods” is currently available for viewing on BBC iPlayer. “World of Secrets, Season 4: Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods” can be accessed on BBC Sounds, with international listeners able to find it on various podcast platforms. Copyright for this content is held by the BBC, 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites and provides information regarding its policy on external linking.