IOPC Investigates One Serving, Four Former Metropolitan Police Officers Over Al-Fayed Allegations
A serving Metropolitan Police officer and four former officers are under investigation for potential misconduct regarding their response to sexual abuse allegations made against Mohamed Al-Fayed. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has yet to determine if disciplinary cases will proceed for these individuals.
The investigation by the police watchdog focuses on reports from four individuals. Public claims of sexual offences by Al-Fayed gained prominence following a September 2024 documentary, after which hundreds of women accused the former Harrods owner of rape, sexual assault, and trafficking.
The Met had acknowledged receiving allegations from 21 women prior to Al-Fayed's death in 2023, yet no charges were ever brought against him. Complaints from two women, initially reported in 2008, were referred to the IOPC in November 2024. The watchdog initiated its directed investigation into the Met officers in January 2025, with a third complaint referred in February 2025.
A Met Police spokesperson affirmed their cooperation with the IOPC, stating that notices had been served to five officers for potential misconduct, though this does not guarantee disciplinary proceedings. The Met's own investigation into individuals who may have facilitated or enabled Al-Fayed's alleged offending remains active. In March, three women and a man were interviewed under caution for offences including human trafficking for sexual exploitation and facilitating rape, with 154 victims having come forward to report various sexual offences.
