Met Police sends Mohamed Al Fayed abuse file to prosecutors three years after his death
Police investigating sexual abuse allegations against the late Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed have handed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service, three years after his death and decades after the first complaints were made.
Police investigating sexual assault claims against Mohamed Al Fayed have passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service, three years after the former Harrods owner died at the age of 94. The development comes decades after the first survivors made reports of abuse against the businessman, who died without ever facing charges.
The Crown Prosecution Service has said it will not provide a timescale for any decision on whether to bring charges against individuals connected to the case. The investigation has so far gathered more than 400 allegations, including rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation and human trafficking, made by at least 156 women. The claims span the period from 1977 to 2014.
At least 21 women came forward with complaints while Al Fayed was still alive, yet no charges were ever brought against him. The scale of the alleged abuse has prompted widespread scrutiny of the systems and people that allowed it to continue for so long.
Journalists and documentary makers have documented the alleged role of a network of facilitators in enabling the behaviour attributed to Al Fayed. These include lawyers, public relations figures, security staff and doctors who reportedly carried out what have been described as “purity examinations” on young female personal assistants.
The case has raised difficult questions about accountability for those who may have assisted or ignored the abuse. Critics argue that the focus on Al Fayed himself, who is beyond the reach of the criminal justice system, risks overshadowing the conduct of living individuals who may have played a part.
The Metropolitan Police has faced criticism over the length of time taken to reach this stage. The decision to refer the file to prosecutors comes only after years of campaigning by survivors and their representatives, who have repeatedly called for a full examination of how the allegations were handled historically.
Legal experts note that prosecuting alleged enablers could prove complex, given the time elapsed and the difficulty of gathering sufficient evidence. However, campaigners insist that the victims deserve to see justice pursued against everyone who may have been complicit, not merely the central figure who is now dead.
The Crown Prosecution Service will now consider whether the evidence meets the threshold for charges. No indication has been given as to when a decision might be announced, and the CPS has declined to commit to any specific timetable.
The case continues to attract significant public attention, with survivors and their advocates closely watching the next steps. The outcome of the CPS review could determine whether the full extent of the alleged network around Al Fayed is ever tested in court.
