At least five individuals who survived sexual abuse by Mohamed Al-Fayed, the owner of Harrods, were found to be victims of human trafficking. Their ordeals involved various forms of trafficking, both internationally and domestically, including within the Harrods premises itself. One survivor disclosed being lured into a deceptive role at Harrods, while two others were initially employed for legitimate positions but were later subjected to abuse away from public view.
Another survivor, who worked as a domestic worker for a member of the Fayed family, was recruited through a letting agency. These incidents span back to the nineties, with the most recent case occurring post the 2010 sale of Harrods.
All five survivors were officially recognized as victims of modern slavery by the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) following referrals made by the charity Unseen UK. The NRM serves as the official system for identifying modern slavery victims in the UK, encompassing human trafficking, forced labor, and servitude.
Authorities such as the police, Border Force, the National Crime Agency, and local councils are mandated to provide NRM referrals to any adult reasonably suspected of being a modern slavery victim. Additionally, non-statutory first responders like Unseen, the Salvation Army, Bernardo’s, and the Refugee Council can also initiate referrals.
Earlier in April, Rachel Louw received a positive confirmation as a victim of abuse linked to Mohamed Al-Fayed and his deceased brother, Salah. Subsequently, all four members of the advocacy group for Al-Fayed survivors, No One Above, were validated as modern slavery victims.
The individuals, identified by pseudonyms Justine, Elizabeth, Margo, and Isabella, shared their stories to protect their identities. Justine, who worked at Harrods in the nineties for over three years, expressed the challenging process of comprehending and acknowledging the exploitation she endured.
Isabella emphasized that the network of perpetrators extended beyond Mohamed Al-Fayed, encompassing various entities under his control, including Harrods, his yachts, aviation business, the Ritz Paris, and properties in different countries. She highlighted the importance of understanding that human trafficking can occur within Harrods, contrary to the belief that it only involves cross-border movements.
Under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act of 2015, human trafficking is defined as arranging or facilitating another person’s travel for exploitation purposes, regardless of victim consent. Al-Fayed has faced over 400 allegations of sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, rape, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking, spanning from 1977 to 2014. The Metropolitan Police are actively investigating these claims, with Operation Cornpoppy focusing on individuals who may have aided Al-Fayed’s crimes. Four individuals have been interrogated thus far, with ongoing inquiries into the matter.
