A woman from Devon, Joanna Brittan, has raised concerns over a police error that resulted in her personal details being sent to the wrong individual. Brittan, who alleged being trafficked by Mohammed Al Fayed and sexually assaulted by his associate, reported the incident to Devon & Cornwall police in 2017. However, it was later discovered that her statement, including sensitive information like her account details, address, and date of birth, was mistakenly sent to an individual in Australia who had also claimed to be a victim of Al Fayed.
Following the mishap, Brittan criticized the Metropolitan Police for their handling of the situation, describing it as “shambolic, incompetent, and complicit.” The error occurred when she requested her original statement back from the police, which was needed by her legal team. The breach of data was attributed to human error and was reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office. As a resolution, Brittan was offered a one-time payment by the police.
Initially, Brittan’s statement from 2017 led to a rape allegation against Al Fayed’s associate, Ahmed Obaidly, a former UAE diplomat. Despite providing further details during a video interview with the authorities in 2020, Brittan was informed that the rape investigation could not proceed as Obaidly had passed away in 2015.
Jasvinder Sanghera, an Independent Survivor Advocate affiliated with Harrods, condemned the handling of the case as “appalling,” expressing doubts about the system’s effectiveness in supporting survivors. The Metropolitan Police assured ongoing investigations into individuals associated with Al Fayed’s alleged offenses and emphasized their improved approach to investigating sexual offenses and supporting victims.
Amid ongoing developments, Brittan was identified as a potential victim of modern slavery and her case is under review by the National Referral Mechanism. Remaining hopeful, Brittan shared her relief in being able to shed the unwarranted shame she had carried. She is one of approximately 200 potential victims connected to Al Fayed, scheduled to virtually meet with Keir Starmer for discussions.
In a related matter, a Met Police detective and four former officers are under scrutiny for their handling of allegations against Al Fayed. The Directorate of Professional Standards, overseen by the IOPC, conducted an investigation into potential misconduct by the officers in January 2025. Al Fayed, who passed away in 2023 without facing any charges, remains a subject of interest in ongoing inquiries.
