Harrods looking into if current staff were involved in Al Fayed allegations

Harrods is looking into whether existent unit were progressive successful the allegations against its erstwhile proprietor Mohamed Al Fayed.

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

Harrods has said “there is an ongoing interior review” that includes “looking astatine whether immoderate existent unit were progressive successful immoderate of the allegations either straight oregon indirectly.”

This came aft a erstwhile worker told BBC News that a manager, who inactive works astatine the store, failed to analyse aft she complained astir Mr Al Fayed’s inappropriate behaviour.

Jessica, not her existent name, said Mr Al Fayed pushed her against a partition and assaulted her successful 2008 erstwhile she was 22 years old, the quality outlet reported connected Monday.

According to the BBC, Jessica claimed she went to HR to kick and manus her announcement successful aft she was sexually assaulted.

She reportedly said she had nary uncertainty the radical successful the gathering knew determination was a intersexual constituent to her complaint, but she had felt excessively intimidated by Mr Al Fayed to item the intersexual assault.

Jessica told the quality outlet that she did kick astir his inappropriate behaviour, including him giving her ample sums of money.

She reportedly said she felt forced by radical successful the country to motion what she believes was a non-disclosure agreement.

Jessica has besides claimed she was “pimped” by another, female, manager, who she said felt Mr Al Fayed would beryllium attracted to her and organised for them to meet, according to the BBC.

Harrods said that its interior reappraisal into imaginable unit engagement is supported by outer counsel.

It added: “Harrods Board has established a non-executive committee of the Board to further see the issues arising from the allegations.

“Harrods is besides successful nonstop connection with the Metropolitan Police to guarantee we are offering our assistance with immoderate of their applicable inquiries.”

Sources wrong Harrods person said the concern has accepted vicarious liability for the behaviour of Mr Al Fayed for the intent of settling claims of alleged victims brought to its attraction since 2023, reaching settlements with the immense majority.

Harrods added connected Monday that its “settlement process was designed successful consultation with autarkic outer counsel and experts successful idiosyncratic wounded litigation.

“All claims settled to day and moving forwards volition beryllium based connected the guidance of these outer individuals to guarantee swift and impartial outcomes for the victims.”

The Crown Prosecution Service doubly decided not to prosecute Mr Al Fayed aft reviewing files of grounds presented by the police.

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”.

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 Mr Al Fayed’s case, adding it “did not transverse his desk”.

Sir Max Hill KC, manager of nationalist prosecutions from 2018 to 2023, said determination was not “sufficient evidence” to prosecute Mr Al Fayed successful 2009 and 2015, adding the lawsuit did not travel to his attraction during his clip arsenic caput of the CPS.

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 conviction, successful each lawsuit our prosecutors looked cautiously astatine the grounds and concluded this wasn’t the case.”

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