Home Office Designates Rachael Louw a Modern Slavery Victim in Mohamed Al Fayed Abuse Case

The Home Office has for the first time formally acknowledged that a woman abused by Mohamed Al Fayed was a victim of modern slavery. Rachael Louw, who waived her right to anonymity, suffered trafficking and abuse at the hands of the former Harrods owner and his brother Salah.

Louw expressed feeling "vindication" and "validation" following the British government's recognition of her case. Several other women who have made applications to the government's National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for modern slavery are reportedly awaiting similar rulings.

A positive "conclusive grounds" decision from the NRM confirms an individual as a victim of modern slavery. Legal experts suggest such a determination could bolster witness credibility in criminal proceedings and impact how police investigate cases.

Mohamed Al Fayed, who owned Harrods from 1985 to 2010, faced hundreds of accusations of rape, sexual assault, and trafficking before his death in 2023 at 94. His brother Salah Fayed, who died in 2010, also faced similar allegations. Neither ever faced charges.

For Louw, the decision represents an initial step towards accountability for those she claims facilitated the trafficking and abuse. She stated it was "an odd feeling to feel positive about an acknowledgement of something that was so intrinsically negative, but it is vindication and validation."

The NRM, established in 2009, identifies potential victims of exploitation. Louw's final determination indicated she had been subjected to sexual exploitation in the UK and France over a three-year period. At least four other women linked to Al Fayed abuse have reportedly received positive "reasonable grounds" decisions, the first stage of the NRM process, and are awaiting final rulings, all referred by the anti-slavery charity Unseen.

Louw reported her case to the Metropolitan Police in 2024, but felt the force initially did not prioritise the trafficking aspects. The Met Police has since broadened its investigation to include human trafficking, reinforcing its team with modern slavery specialists. In March, the force announced that three women and one man had been interviewed under caution for offences including human trafficking for sexual exploitation and facilitating rape. The investigation has received allegations from 154 victims concerning sexual assault, rape, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking.