Two complaints against Scotland Yard over its handling of claims against disgraced ex-Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed will be probed by the force itself under a watchdog’s direction.
The Metropolitan Police is reviewing 21 allegations made before Al Fayed died and referred two of them to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog in November. Today, the IOPC announced that the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards will continue to investigate the two complaints relating to separate 2008 allegations – but under the direction of the watchdog.
It comes after over 100 alleged victims have contacted the police to say they suffered sexual abuse by the tycoon – the youngest thought to have been only 13 at the time. A number of allegations were made against Al Fayed, who died in 2023, while he was still alive but no charges were brought.
In November, the Met confirmed detectives were investigating more than five people who may have facilitated the ex-Harrods boss in his alleged sexual abuse of dozens of women and girls.
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Investigators twice sent files for a charging decision to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) – once in 2008 relating to three alleged victims and again in 2015 linked to one other. On another three occasions – in 2018, 2021 and 2023 – the CPS was asked for early investigative advice, but the matters were not pursued further by police.
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 DPS and the ongoing criminal investigation into those who potentially enabled or assisted the alleged offending. The complainants will be kept regularly updated throughout the investigation.”
In November, the Met confirmed detectives were investigating more than five people who may have facilitated the ex-Harrods boss in his alleged sexual abuse of dozens of women and girls. They are looking at individuals surrounding the tycoon who could have enabled him to commit crimes claimed to have spanned decades between 1977 and 2014. The force is also facing police corruption allegations, with the Guardian reporting officers were accused of taking bribes to help him persecute staff and avoid accusations of abuse.