Key facts
- Nearly half of women reporting sexual abuse allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed may be trafficking victims, MPs were told.
- A review found 70 survivors' accounts bore the hallmarks of human trafficking.
- The Home Office has confirmed at least five survivors as victims of international and domestic trafficking.
- Some women were trafficked from Harrods to Fayed's private offices and residence, while others were abused overseas.
- Survivors living abroad face barriers to being recognized as trafficking victims by the Home Office.
- The Metropolitan police have paused referrals for victims living abroad after they were rejected by the Home Office.
Nearly half of the women who have reported allegations of sexual abuse by Mohamed Al Fayed to the Metropolitan police may be victims of human trafficking, MPs were told. A review earlier this year found that 70 survivors' accounts bore the hallmarks of trafficking, according to senior Met officers briefing the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for the survivors of Fayed and Harrods.
The Home Office confirmed last month that at least five survivors were victims of international and domestic trafficking. Liberal Democrat MP Wendy Chamberlain, a co-chair of the APPG, suggested that the number of confirmed cases could rise significantly, comparing the scale of abuse to that of Jimmy Savile. Labour MP Dave Robertson, the APPG's other co-chair, stated that the number of women trafficked by Fayed and his ring was likely much higher.
Senior police officers leading Operation Cornpoppy, the Met's investigation, told the APPG that some women were trafficked from Harrods to Fayed’s private offices and residence in Park Lane, while others were taken out of the UK and abused overseas. However, several survivors have told The Guardian that the Home Office has not recognized them as trafficking victims because they now live abroad.
Amy, who lives in Italy, described being trafficked from her job at Harrods and her home to Fayed’s properties, including his private residence and office at 60 Park Lane in London, where she alleges he sexually abused her. She also recounted being taken to his estate in Oxted, Surrey, where she was sexually assaulted. Amy stated that being forced to change into specific clothing robbed her of her identity, a component she identified as part of trafficking.
In a letter to the then minister for safeguarding, Amy raised concerns about the exclusion of UK-based survivors from the Home Office's assessment of potential trafficking victims via the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). While an initial Home Office response suggested no residency requirement, Amy was later informed that referrals for international residents would be rejected.
KP Law, representing Amy and 277 other alleged survivors, noted that nearly a quarter of their clients live overseas and criticized the apparently inconsistent advice regarding eligibility for trafficking victim recognition. Lucy Traynor, a senior associate at KP Law, highlighted Amy's case as an example of survivors facing barriers to recognition outside the UK.
Eleanor Lyons, the independent anti-slavery commissioner, pointed out that the Home Office's statutory guidance explicitly states that individuals must be in the UK to be referred to the NRM, due to the provision of support services. Lyons urged the Home Office to reconsider this requirement, stating that the current situation causes distress and that the government should be making it easier, not harder, to identify and recognize potential victims of modern slavery.
Survivors' groups indicate that over 500 women have come forward regarding abuse allegedly occurring at Harrods, Park Lane, Fulham football club, the Ritz hotel in Paris, and other locations owned by Fayed. The Met police are investigating 165 victims who have contacted them directly. A Met police spokesperson confirmed they had paused referrals for victims living abroad due to rejections by the Home Office and would restart them if the position changed. A Home Office spokesperson acknowledged the bravery of survivors and stated they are ensuring modern slavery survivors receive support. A Harrods spokesperson affirmed their support for survivors and cooperation with the investigation.