A Metropolitan Police detective and four former officers are under investigation for their handling of sexual abuse allegations against the late businessman Mohamed Al Fayed. Following a BBC broadcast in September 2024, it came to light that 21 women had approached the Met before Al Fayed’s death in 2023 with complaints of sexual assault, rape, exploitation, and trafficking.
Two women who reported allegations in 2008 had their cases referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in November 2024. The IOPC has been investigating potential misconduct concerning the handling of these reports, as Al Fayed was never charged with any offenses. The Directorate of Professional Standards within the Met, under the oversight of the IOPC, initiated an investigation in January 2025.
Currently, a serving Met officer and four former officers are being investigated for potential misconduct. The IOPC confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, while a Met Police spokesperson stated that they are cooperating with the independent inquiry. The investigation remains active to explore any involvement in enabling or facilitating offenses by Al Fayed.
Al Fayed, characterized as a “monster” during a press conference in 2024, faces allegations from numerous former female Harrods employees regarding assault and violence in London and Paris properties. In recent developments, three women were questioned by detectives over suspicions of aiding Al Fayed’s abuse, involving human trafficking and rape allegations spanning from 1977 to 2014.
To date, 154 victims have reported instances of sexual assault, rape, exploitation, and trafficking. Former Harrods staff claimed they were coerced into undergoing invasive medical tests for sexually transmitted diseases, with results shared with Al Fayed. Allegations suggest a toxic environment at Harrods under his reign, where staff were exploited for his satisfaction.
Further accusations point to Al Fayed deploying staff, a former senior Met Police officer, legal representatives, and PR agents to intimidate women, alongside allegations of surveillance through hidden cameras and bugs. Comparisons have been drawn between Al Fayed and notorious sex offenders like Jimmy Savile and Jeffrey Epstein, with a surge in testimonies following a BBC documentary on the scandal. An attorney likened the case to those involving Savile, Epstein, and Weinstein due to its disturbing elements.