Fayed scandal: Met turns attention to those who facilitated ex-Harrods owner’s sex crimes
The Met has launched a new investigation following a public appeal for victims to come forward and an assessment of allegations concerning Mohamed Al Fayed.
Since a renewed public appeal and recent media reporting, the Met has been contacted by numerous victims – some reporting multiple offences – bringing the total known new victims to 90.
The Complex Investigation Team (CIT), a dedicated unit within the Met, continues to review all reports and as a result of their assessment so far, an investigation has been launched into a number of individuals associated with Al Fayed.
Officers are working to establish what roles those people may have played in assisting and facilitating Al Fayed’s offending.
Commander Stephen Clayman, of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “I recognise the bravery of every victim-survivor who has come forward to share their experiences, often after years of silence.
“This investigation is about giving survivors a voice, despite the fact that Mohamed Al Fayed is no longer alive to face prosecution.
“However, we are now pursuing any individuals suspected to have been complicit in his offending, and we are committed to seeking justice.
“We are aware that past events may have impacted the public’s trust and confidence in our approach, and we are determined to rebuild that trust by addressing these allegations with integrity and thoroughness.
“We encourage anyone who has information or was affected by Al Fayed’s actions to reach out to us. Your voice matters, and we are here to listen and to help.”
Detectives are reviewing all previous investigations to identify any missed opportunities, recognising current investigative techniques and practices have progressed significantly over the last 20 years.
They have already reviewed more than 50,000 pages of evidence, including victim and impact statements, and retrieved significant amounts of material from these investigations stored in our archives.
No criminal charges were brought against Al Fayed while he was alive.
The Met said: “From the review so far, it is apparent that past investigations were extensive and conducted by specialist teams who sought charging decisions from the CPS on two occasions. However, we know that contact with and support for some victims at the time could have been improved. Only after completing this comprehensive review will we fully understand what could have been done differently.
“While these cases date back over a decade and we cannot change what happened in the past, we are committed to understanding, being open about any shortcomings and improving our response to survivors moving forward.”
Following complaints from two women about the quality of investigations conducted in 2008, the Met has voluntarily referred these cases to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The Met is urging anyone with information, whether they were directly affected by Mohamed Al Fayed’s actions or aware of others who may have been involved, to come forward.
Survivors and witnesses are invited to contact the Complex Investigation Team on 020 8217 6582 or 6586, or by calling 101 and quoting reference CAD 2195/27NOV24.
There is also an email: CIT@met.police.uk or an online portal you can use: https://mipp.police.uk/
Picture: Wikimedia Commons/chauhan.shweta14 : Wiki page HERE
