Police say 70 women reporting Al Fayed abuse show trafficking hallmarks
Metropolitan Police officers told MPs that 70 women who reported sexual abuse by Mohamed Al Fayed gave accounts with hallmarks of human trafficking. The figure suggests the number formally recognised as trafficking victims could rise, and has prompted concern that some survivors are struggling to access the system intended to identify and protect them.
Officers said some women were moved from Harrods to Al Fayed’s London offices and home, while others were taken abroad and abused. The Home Office has confirmed at least five victims of domestic or international trafficking, but survivors living overseas say their referrals have been rejected; the law firm representing 278 alleged survivors says nearly a quarter now live outside the UK.
- Police identified 70 accounts with signs of trafficking.
- At least five survivors have been confirmed as victims.
- Overseas survivors say they face barriers to formal recognition.
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Mohamed Al Fayed was the long-time owner of Harrods department store in London who died in 2023. Since his death, numerous women have come forward with accounts of sexual abuse that occurred while they worked at or interacted with him and his businesses.
Police officers have noted that many of these accounts contain features associated with human trafficking, such as women being moved between locations and exploited whilst under someone's control. Recognising abuse as trafficking is legally important because it allows survivors to access specialist support services and protections specifically designed for trafficking victims.
Many of the women who have come forward now live abroad, but the system for officially recognising and supporting trafficking victims has reportedly rejected referrals from some of those living overseas. This has raised questions about whether current protections and support are adequately available to survivors who live outside the UK.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Almost half of Fayed abuse accusers are potential trafficking victims, MPs told”.