Al Fayed victims say cases should be investigated as human trafficking

Several women who have come forward accusing Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of Harrods, of sexual assault are urging that their cases be treated as incidents of human trafficking. The Metropolitan Police is currently investigating claims involving more than five individuals who allegedly aided Al Fayed in his abuse of hundreds of women and girls over many years. Al Fayed, who controlled the luxury department store from 1985 until 2010, passed away in 2023 at the age of 94.

Advocacy group No One Above, which supports the survivors, insists that the abuse constituted a coordinated effort involving numerous perpetrators and facilitators, rather than isolated incidents by a single individual. One survivor, using the pseudonym Isabella, recounted her assault occurring in 2001 and expressed her belief that Al Fayed operated within an extensive network. She explained, “It was the exploitation of over 400 known children and young women over multiple decades across multiple jurisdictions through organised systems and involving multiple perpetrators, facilitators, corporate and institutional structures.” Isabella emphasized that the situation was far beyond “one bad man, a handful of helpers and isolated sexual abuse.”

Despite the Metropolitan Police privately acknowledging to Isabella that her case aligns with the criteria of trafficking, they are reportedly not investigating it under the Modern Slavery Act because this legislation was not in place when the offenses happened. So far, around 146 individuals have come forward to report crimes related to Al Fayed. The scope of his alleged predatory conduct came into public focus following a BBC documentary and podcast released in September 2024, which prompted dozens more to share comparable stories.

Isabella remains skeptical about the current police investigation, stating, “I don’t think that what the Met have said they’re investigating is reflective of a multi-decade, multi-perpetrator, multi-jurisdictional trafficking organisation.” She stressed the need for authorities to probe deeply into who was aware of the abuse, when they learned about it, and why no action was taken. According to her, only by unraveling these details can effective safeguards be established to prevent such abuses from recurring.

In response to the allegations, Harrods has revealed that over 180 survivors are involved in its compensation program, with more than 50 women having already received payments. A spokesperson from the Home Office extended condolences to those affected and highlighted that the Minister for Safeguarding plans to meet with survivors to assure their voices are heard. They emphasized the government’s commitment, describing violence against women and girls as a national emergency and announcing the largest crackdown in British history aimed at halving such violence within ten years.

The Metropolitan Police declined to provide further comment on the ongoing inquiry

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