Complaints filed to police watchdog over Met’s handling of Al Fayed abuse allegations

Survivors of abuse at the hands of the late Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed have complained to a watchdog about how the Metropolitan police handled allegations.More than 400 claims of sexual misconduct have been made against Al Fayed, including rape and human trafficking, dating between 1977 and 2014.The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed on Sunday that three victims had filed complaints this week about the Met’s handling of allegations between 2018 and 2024.The police watchdog said it would assess the complaints before deciding on any further action.The IOPC is already investigating one serving and four former Met officers for potential misconduct relating to the case. That investigation, led by the Met’s directorate of professionalstandards under the watchdog’s direction and control, involves other reports made by four victims.The Met is investigating allegations made by at least 155 victims, at least 21 of whom are understood to have come forward before Al Fayed’s death.Operation Cornpoppy, launched 19 months ago, is looking at potential suspects who may have facilitated or enabled Al Fayed’s crimes. As of last week it had interviewed just four people under caution. Al Fayed died in 2023 at the age of 94, without facing any charges.A Met spokesperson said on Sunday: “We are assisting the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as it carries out an independent investigation into our handling of reports of sexual offending by Mohamed Al Fayed.“As part of this, the IOPC is investigating complaints against five officers. One serving and four former officers are being investigated for potential misconduct. The serving of notices does not mean that misconduct proceedings will necessarily follow.“We are aware that further complaints are now being assessed by the IOPC. We will support these as required. Our investigation into individuals who may have facilitated or enabled offending by Mohamed Al Fayed remains active.”Lawyers representing survivors said 421 people had come forward about abuse that had allegedly taken place at Harrods or other businesses Al Fayed owned. Photograph: Mina Kim/ReutersVictims of the former Harrods owner have called for a wider investigation into trafficking, arguing that without it the “true scale” of the billionaire’s alleged network would remain hidden.skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionNo One Above (NOA), a collective founded by victims of abuse at the hands of Al Fayed, has urged the National Crime Agency to set up a joint investigation team with the Met and have oversight of the inquiry.Lawyers representing the Justice for Fayed and Harrods Survivors group said 421 people had come forward about abuse that allegedly took place at the luxury department store in central London, as well as at the Ritz hotel in Paris, Fulham FC, and other places owned by Al Fayed.Earlier in June, Keir Starmer met about 200 survivors on an online video call as part of a greater push for justice and accountability.A Downing Street spokesperson said at the time: “The prime minister met survivors of Mohamed Fayed, paid tribute to their courage, and made clear he stands with them in their fight for justice.“With hundreds coming forward, including from overseas, the meeting was held online to ensure all survivors could take part. We are clear that this is the beginning, not the end, of working with survivors to secure the justice they deserve.”