CPS twice did not prosecute Mohamed Al Fayed after police presented evidence

The Crown Prosecution Service doubly decided not to prosecute Mohamed Al Fayed aft reviewing files of grounds presented by the constabulary connected the erstwhile Harrods owner.

Evidence was shown to the CPS successful 2009 and 2015, but it decided not to spell up with the prosecution due to the fact that determination was not “a realistic imaginable of conviction”.

Five women person alleged they were raped by Al Fayed, who died past twelvemonth astatine the property of 94, with a fig of others alleging intersexual misconduct.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was caput of the CPS arsenic manager of nationalist prosecutions from 2008 to 2013, but a Downing Street spokesperson said helium did not grip Al Fayed’s case, adding it “did not transverse his desk”.

In 2018, 2021 and 2023, the CPS provided aboriginal investigative proposal to the Metropolitan Police pursuing allegations made against Al Fayed.

However, a afloat record of grounds was ne'er received by the CPS successful each of these instances and they were fixed nary further enactment by police.

A record of grounds indispensable beryllium presented to the CPS by an investigating constabulary unit for it to person ceremonial engagement successful a case.

A CPS spokesperson said: “We reviewed files of grounds presented by the constabulary successful 2009 and 2015.

“To bring a prosecution the CPS indispensable beryllium assured determination is simply a realistic imaginable of condemnation – successful each lawsuit our prosecutors looked cautiously astatine the grounds and concluded this wasn’t the case.”

The Metropolitan Police said it had investigated “various allegations of intersexual offences made implicit a fig of years” astir Al Fayed, but “no charges resulted from these investigations”.

It added that “if immoderate further accusation comes to airy it volition beryllium assessed and investigated accordingly”.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “Keir did not grip this case. It did not transverse his desk.”

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that Sir Keir Starmer had made tackling unit against women a “personal priority” erstwhile helium was caput of the CPS.

Ms Phillipson said: “He turned the CPS astir portion helium was starring it to absorption connected that. But, clearly, if determination person been issues that should beryllium considered, that should happen.”

She added: “I don’t cognize the details of what happened successful 2009, determination sometimes tin beryllium issues with the grounds that’s presented by the police, whether that tin pb to a conviction.”

Commander Kevin Southworth, who leads connected nationalist extortion for the Metropolitan Police, said: “We are alert of assorted allegations of intersexual offences made implicit a fig of years successful narration to the precocious Mohammed Al Fayed which were reported to the Met.

“Each 1 was investigated and, wherever appropriate, proposal from the Crown Prosecution Service was sought.

“No charges resulted from these investigations.”

Mr Southworth added: “Anyone who has been the unfortunate of a intersexual offence is encouraged to talk to constabulary truthful they tin beryllium provided with enactment and immoderate offence tin beryllium investigated.

“As with immoderate investigation, if immoderate further accusation comes to airy it volition beryllium assessed and investigated accordingly.”

A ineligible squad representing alleged victims confirmed connected Saturday greeting that they person “had implicit 150 caller inquiries” since the airing of a BBC documentary connected Al Fayed.

The inquiries subordinate to a “mix of survivors and individuals with grounds astir Al Fayed”, a spokesperson for the squad confirmed to the PA quality agency.