The Metropolitan Police is facing scrutiny as a serving detective and four former officers are being investigated over their handling of sexual abuse allegations against the late billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed. The development comes after hundreds of women accused the former Harrods and Fulham FC owner of rape, sexual assault, and trafficking.
Background of the case
Mohamed Al Fayed, who died in 2023 at the age of 94, faced numerous allegations of sexual misconduct spanning decades. It was only after a BBC documentary aired in September 2024 that the Met Police revealed 21 women had approached them with complaints while Al Fayed was still alive, but no charges were brought. The Egyptian businessman was never prosecuted for any offences.
In November 2024, complaints from two women, whose allegations date back to 2008, were referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Investigators had previously sent files to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for charging decisions twice—once in 2008 involving three victims, and again in 2015 linked to one other.
Investigation into officers
The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards, under the IOPC's control, confirmed that an investigation into the officers was initiated in January 2025. A statement said: "At this stage, five individuals – a serving Met officer and four former Met officers – have been advised that they are being investigated for potential misconduct."
The IOPC confirmed the investigation is ongoing. A Met Police spokesperson added: "We are assisting the IOPC as it carries out an independent investigation into our handling of reports of sexual offending by Mohammed Al-Fayed. As part of this, the IOPC is investigating complaints against five officers... The serving of notices does not mean that misconduct proceedings will necessarily follow. Our investigation into individuals who may have facilitated or enabled offending by Mohamed Al Fayed remains active."
Victims and allegations
To date, 154 victims have come forward to police reporting allegations of sexual assault, rape, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking. Many are former female employees of Harrods, where Al Fayed was owner from 1985 to 2010. They allege they were subjected to invasive tests for sexually transmitted diseases by a doctor who shared results with Al Fayed, and that the store had a "toxic" culture under his 25-year rule, where young staff were procured for his gratification.
Al Fayed has been compared to serial sex offenders Jimmy Savile and Jeffrey Epstein. Barrister Dean Armstrong KC, representing alleged victims, described the case as combining "some of the most horrific elements of those involving Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein."
Further inquiries
In March 2025, three women—aged in their 40s, 50s, and 60s—were questioned by detectives on suspicion of enabling Al Fayed's abuse, including human trafficking and facilitating rape, relating to offences between 1977 and 2014. No arrests have been made, and the investigation continues.
Al Fayed is also accused of using Harrods staff, a former senior Met Police officer, lawyers, and PR agents to threaten women, and of spying via hidden cameras and bugs. The legal team representing the alleged victims held a press conference in 2024, calling Al Fayed a "monster."
