Investigation launched into Met’s handling of sexual assault allegations made against Mohamed al-Fayed
An investigation has been launched into the Metropolitan Police’s handing of sexual assault allegations made against former Harrods boss Mohamed al-Fayed.
Two complaints from victim-survivors raising concerns about the force’s handling of allegations they made against al-Fayed will be investigated by the Met itself under the direction of the independent policing watchdog.
The Independent understands the allegations, which the victim-survivors each reported to the Met in 2008, were both accusations of sexual assault.
The Met is currently reviewing a total of 21 allegations that were made before al-Fayed died in 2023, and referred two of these to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in November.
On Wednesday, the IOPC announced that the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards will continue to investigate the complaints, but under the direction of the watchdog “to identify if there were any missed opportunities or failures by officers to properly investigate these reports”.
Investigation launched into Met’s handling of sexual assault allegations made against Mohamed al-Fayed