Nearly half of women who reported abuse by Mohamed Al Fayed identified as potential trafficking victims, MPs told

Senior Metropolitan police officers told an all-party parliamentary group that a review found 70 accounts from women who alleged sexual abuse by Mohamed Al Fayed bore the hallmarks of trafficking, a development that could expand the scope of investigations.

Background and briefing

Senior officers from the Metropolitan police told the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for survivors of Fayed and Harrods in July that a review carried out earlier this year identified 70 women’s accounts which showed indications consistent with human trafficking. The APPG was assembled to consider the experiences of survivors who have come forward with allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed.

Implications for investigations

Police said the presence of trafficking indicators among those accounts means the number of victims identified in the wider inquiry could rise, and that elements of trafficking may need to be examined alongside allegations of sexual abuse. Officers indicated the review prompted further lines of enquiry within the Met’s ongoing work on the allegations.

Parliamentary scrutiny

The briefing to MPs reflects growing parliamentary interest in how law enforcement handles historical abuse allegations and complex victim circumstances. The APPG has been monitoring developments and advising on how survivors’ accounts are assessed and supported as investigations proceed.

Next steps

The Met has not published full details of the review but told the APPG the findings will inform operational decisions as investigations continue. The identification of trafficking indicators could alter investigative priorities and the types of specialist support offered to complainants as police progress their inquiries.