Met Police will examine itself over claims it mishandled intercourse abuse allegations in opposition to Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed
Scotland Yard’s handling of sex abuse claims against former Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed is to be investigated by the force itself.
The police watchdog announced yesterday two complaints about the failure to prosecute the tycoon when he was alive has been referred back to the Metropolitan Police to investigate, but under the direction of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
By the time of Al Fayed’s death in 2023, police were already aware of allegations made by 21 women between 2005 and 2023, including four claims of rape, 16 sexual assaults and one related to trafficking.
The billionaire was arrested in 2013 over a rape allegation, but the 94-year-old was never charged with any offence.
Investigators twice sent files for a charging decision to the Crown Prosecution Service – once in 2008 relating to three victims and again in 2015 linked to one other.
On another three occasions the CPS was asked for early investigative advice, but the claims were not pursued further by police.
Since a BBC investigation in September, 150 people have come forward with information about ‘horrendous abuse’, including 90 new victims, taking the total to 111 complainants, officers have said.
The youngest alleged victim is thought to have been 13.
Scotland Yard’s handling of sex abuse claims against former Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed is to be investigated by the force itself
The police watchdog announced yesterday that two complaints about the failure to prosecute the tycoon when he was alive has been referred back to the Metropolitan Police to investigate, but under the direction of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)
By the time of Al Fayed’s death in 2023, police were already aware of allegations made by 21 women between 2005 and 2023, including four claims of rape, 16 sexual assaults and one related to trafficking
Detectives are now investigating allegations of rape, sexual assault and trafficking spanning almost four decades from 1977 and 2014.
Officers have also identified more than five suspects who allegedly assisted the billionaire.
The IOPC decision means that an internal Met review will be carried out into how the force handled claims about the businessman while he was alive, amid allegations of corruption and reports that officers were taking bribes to help him persecute staff.
IOPC director of operations Steve Noonan said: ‘Our sympathies are with all the victim-survivors who reported allegations against Mr Al Fayed.
‘There is widespread public concern around this case, with a significant number of allegations reported over many years while Mr Al Fayed was still alive.
‘It’s important that an investigation is carried out into these complaints to identify if there were any missed opportunities or failures by officers to properly investigate these reports made back in 2008.
‘We’ve decided to direct these investigations as the Met’s ongoing review of 21 allegations means it could become much wider than two complaints, and also it will help information sharing between the Directorate of Professional Standards and the ongoing criminal investigation into those who potentially enabled or assisted the alleged offending.’
