Scotland Yard has referred itself to a police watchdog after two girls complained about how their instances towards Mohamed Al Fayed have been dealt with.
In accordance with the Metropolitan Police, the 2 girls raised considerations concerning the high quality of police response and, within the case of the 2013 investigation, how particulars got here to be disclosed publicly.
Commander Stephen Clayman, from the Met’s Specialist Crime staff, mentioned: “We’re actively reviewing 21 allegations reported to the Metropolitan Police previous to Mohamed Al Fayed’s passing, in addition to the associated police investigations, to find out if any further investigative steps can be found or there are issues we may have performed higher.
“This course of stays lively, and we’re dedicated to assessing all new allegations, pursuing justice the place attainable and transparently addressing any failings.
“In latest weeks, two victims-survivors have come ahead with considerations about how their allegations have been dealt with when first reported, and it is just applicable that the IOPC assess these complaints.
“Though we can not change the previous, we’re resolute in our objective to supply each particular person who contacts us the very best normal of service and assist.
“I encourage anybody with related info, whether or not you have been personally affected or have information about others who might have facilitated Al Fayed’s actions to contact us.
“Our precedence stays to make sure that no stone is left unturned within the pursuit of justice.”
It got here after it emerged a girl first reported allegations she was sexually assaulted by Mohamed al-Fayed to the Metropolitan Police a decade sooner than the power initially acknowledged.
As Harrods’ new house owners course of greater than 250 claims of sexual misconduct by the division retailer’s late boss, Samantha Jay-Ramsay’s household instructed the BBC that she first reported him to Scotland Yard in 1995, after he allegedly harassed and sexually assaulted her whereas working at Harrods aged 17.
The Met has beforehand mentioned the primary allegations they have been made conscious of have been in 2005, and mentioned that Samantha’s case might not have been transferred onto a police file as a result of some studies have been paper-based on the time.
In an account chiming with those who have emerged this yr, Samantha instructed the Information Of The World newspaper in 1998 that Mr Al Fayed mentioned she would want to have a medical and instructed her: “I such as you to be clear. I hope you utilize Dettol, it’s one of the best”.
She then alleged he gripped her face, kissed her and touched her inappropriately earlier than handing her £200. Samantha mentioned one in all Mr Al Fayed’s private assistants berated her for making a criticism, earlier than the ex-Harrods proprietor allegedly shouted at her and fired her.
She instructed the now-defunct paper that she had reported Fayed to the Met, who instructed her she was “not the primary” they usually had “information inches excessive” about Fayed. Her mom then went to police in Gosport, Hampshire, who handed the criticism on to the Met however the household mentioned nothing got here of it.
On the most recent complaints, a spokesperson for the the Impartial Workplace for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed it contacted the Met Police in September to search out out if the power had acquired any complaints about investigations into the Al-Fayed allegations.
They mentioned: “We contacted the Met Police in September to search out out whether or not it had acquired any related complaints or recognized any conduct points that may require a referral to us regarding sexual offence allegations made towards Mohammed Al-Fayed.
“We now have remained in common contact with the Met’s Directorate of Skilled Requirements on this matter and, on November 8, we acquired two criticism referrals regarding the Met Police’s authentic dealing with of allegations made by two complainants about Mr Al-Fayed.
“We are going to assess the knowledge supplied earlier than deciding what additional motion could also be required from us.”
