Met took no action against Mohamed al-Fayed despite rape reports

by · Mail Online

The Metropolitan Police took no action against Mohamed al-Fayed despite 19 sex assault and rape reports, the force has admitted.  

There were allegations from 19 different women, with three allegations of rape, 15 of sexual assault and one related to trafficking.

Yet despite this, the force admitted that for every allegation, no further action was taken against the then-Harrods owner.

It came as a former Scotland Yard chief superintendent claimed Harrods's close relationship with the Met Police 'felt corrupt'. 

Stephen Otter alleged he was told by another officer in 1999 that the 'special relationship' with the department store 'benefits both us and them'. 

Disgraced businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed can be seen grinning from behind the wheel of a blue and white police marked car that Harrods sponsored
Mohamed Al Fayed is accused of raping multiple women during his time as Harrods owner from 1984 to 2010
The Metropolitan Police took no action against Mohamed al-Fayed despite 19 sex assault and rape reports, the force has admitted
Former Scotland Yard chief superintendent Stephen Otter said he tried to return the car but was told by a security boss this 'arrangement' had 'been going on for a long time'

The Met said: 'Between 2005 and 2023 we approached the Crown Prosecution Service on five occasions – two of these, in 2009 and 2015, were to pass full files of evidence. The remaining three approaches were for early investigative advice.

Commander Stephen Clayman said: 'We recognise the significance of the allegations made against Mohamed Al Fayed and the impact this has had on those affected. 

'It is vital that any victims have a voice and are able to report any allegations if they have not done so before, and know that they will be taken seriously. 

'We have specialist teams to ensure all those victims who make contact with us are supported in the best way possible.

'I understand that for many years many people have sought answers in relation to this case. 

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'We will do everything possible to update on our progress when we can, but it is crucial we do this thoroughly and we do it right.'

Mr Otter told Sky News of a culture where officers were given hampers and had 'lots of drinks paid for' them after providing 'additional resources' at Christmas.

But the security boss at Harrods started making 'quite a lot of complaints' about cops coming 'in here again, asking for freebies'. 

Asked if he felt the Met Police officers were corrupt, Mr Otter said: 'I think they probably were.'  

Mr Otter tried to return the police car that had been sponsored by Harrods but was told by the security boss this 'arrangement' had 'been going on for a long time' and: 'When you've been here a bit longer, you will have a better understanding of this relationship.'  

He later conducted a review when he became borough commander for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and found policing at the luxury store was like a Premier League game. 

'The risk just literally didn't support the resources and the attention they got,' he said. 

Mr Otter also raised fears that the relationship with Harrods would have played a 'very negative part' in police investigations into allegations about Al Fayed.

Asked if he felt the Met Police officers were corrupt, Mr Otter (pictured) said: 'I think they probably were'
Mohamed Al Fayed dons a Victoria emerald and diamond tiara as he launches Harrods' New Year sale in 2001

He added: 'I just felt deeply uncomfortable with the relationship. It was a relationship in which this department store had huge amounts of power over the leaders of the areas of policing around them.

'It felt like a corrupt relationship on both sides.'

The Metropolitan Police declined to comment when approached by Sky News.

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A spokesperson said: 'Given the length of time since the events... we aren't able to provide a response.'

MailOnline revealed last week that Al Fayed sponsored a Metropolitan Police car a year after he was publicly accused of raping and sexually assaulting dozens of women.

In pictures likely to cause major embarrassment to Scotland Yard, the depraved billionaire grins from behind the wheel of the blue and white marked Rover wearing a police-issue peaked cap.

The driver's door bears the inscription, 'This car is sponsored by Harrods', in the store's distinctive script.

MailOnline discovered the long-forgotten photos days after a BBC documentary showed the Egyptian-born businessman and TV star to be a prolific sexual predator who for more than three decades used wealth and status to abuse girls and women on his payroll.

More than 20 told the Corporation how he'd assaulted them, with four saying they'd been raped.