Al Fayed abuse should be investigated as human trafficking, says former senior Met officer

A former senior officer from the Metropolitan Police has called for the ongoing investigation into allegations of rape and sexual abuse by the late Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of Harrods, to be expanded to include human trafficking. This follows a legal team from Leigh Day reaching out to the police on behalf of at least 15 women, requesting clarity on whether trafficking is being considered within the scope of the inquiry.

The current probe, known as Operation Cornpoppy, is examining the possible involvement of individuals who may have facilitated or enabled Al Fayed’s alleged crimes. However, lawyers argue that the investigation’s limited scope means that not all investigative tools are being utilized effectively. They express concern that this narrow focus reduces the chance of bringing to justice those who may have acted as “enablers” in the abuse.

Phil Brewer, who formerly led the Met’s anti-trafficking unit, told the BBC that it is difficult to understand why the operation has not been classified as a trafficking investigation from the outset. Human trafficking, as defined by the Modern Slavery Act of 2015, involves arranging or facilitating the movement of a person either within or across borders for the purpose of exploitation. Although the Act is relatively recent, offenses related to trafficking have long existed under other laws and remain prosecutable.

One of the alleged victims, using the pseudonym Anne, shared her story with the BBC for the first time. She described being trafficked by Mohamed Al Fayed to his brother Salah Fayed in France, where she was abused. Anne recounted how her passport was taken, and she was transported on a private jet from the UK for a job that was essentially a front for the abuse. She depicted the network enabling such crimes as a “trafficking factory” and emphasized the intense fear and helplessness experienced by victims. Anne has repeatedly attempted to report her case to Operation Cornpoppy but feels her concerns have not been adequately addressed.

Another woman, Rachael Louw, who has waived her anonymity, also alleges that she was abused by both Al Fayed and his brother and believes she was trafficked. Unlike in the UK, she reported her case to French authorities, who she says handled her situation more sensitively. French investigators are reportedly looking into “potential acts of aggravated human trafficking with multiple victims” connected to Al Fayed. Louw believes the Metropolitan Police should adopt a similar approach, warning that evidence they are missing could be crucial.

Phil Brewer supports widening the investigation, highlighting that viewing the case through the lens of trafficking broadens the investigative strategy. He explained that this approach moves beyond relying solely on survivors’ testimonies, creating opportunities to gather corroborative evidence and uncover patterns of behavior.

Leigh Day’s letter to the Metropolitan Police acknowledges that the Modern Slavery Act is not retroactive concerning historic offenses but stresses that the legislation offers a valuable framework to examine patterns of conduct that might otherwise be categorized simply as “historic sexual abuse” or “sexual misconduct.” They consider the current investigative approach to be restrictive.

Mohamed Al Fayed passed away in 2023 at the age of 94 without facing any charges, and his brother Salah died in 2010, also never charged. Al Fayed owned the luxury department store Harrods from 1985 to 2010, the period during which most of the alleged abuses reportedly took place.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson reaffirmed that the investigation into those who may have facilitated Al Fayed’s offenses is ongoing. They emphasized improvements in how the police handle investigations of rape and sexual offenses, focusing more on suspects and their activity while keeping survivors at the center of the response. The police have urged anyone with relevant information to come forward, whether directly affected or aware of potential offenders.

Meanwhile, Harrods has informed the BBC that an independent external inquiry into whether any current employees had knowledge of the alleged abuse is nearing its conclusion. They also confirmed that one employee left the company last year following these issues

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