Survivors of sexual abuse linked to billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed, the owner of Harrods, have revealed harrowing accounts of human trafficking.
The survivors disclosed instances of both international and local trafficking, including incidents within the Harrods premises. One survivor shared being lured into a deceptive position at Harrods, while two others were initially hired for legitimate roles but later subjected to abuse away from public view.
One survivor worked as a household employee for a member of the Fayed family after recruitment through a letting agency. The reported cases span from the nineties to a more recent occurrence post the 2010 sale of Harrods.
All five survivors have been officially recognized as victims of modern slavery through conclusive decisions by the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), following referrals made by the charity Unseen UK. The NRM is a system designed to identify modern slavery victims in the UK, encompassing forms such as human trafficking, forced labor, and servitude.
Law enforcement agencies, including the police, Border Force, the National Crime Agency, and local authorities, are mandated to extend NRM referrals to any adult reasonably suspected of being a modern slavery victim.
Various charities, including Unseen, the Salvation Army, Bernardo’s, and the Refugee Council, also possess the authority to initiate referrals as non-statutory first responders.
In a recent development, a group advocating for survivors of Al-Fayed’s abuse, known as No One Above, have all received confirmation through NRM decisions that they were victims of modern slavery. The individuals, identified by pseudonyms like Justine, Elizabeth, Margo, and Isabella, shared their experiences to raise awareness while protecting their identities.
Justine, recounting her time at Harrods during the nineties, expressed the profound impact of the NRM decision, highlighting the realization of being a victim of modern slavery. She emphasized the collective nature of the abuse network, dispelling the notion that it was solely the actions of one individual.
Elizabeth, another survivor who worked at Harrods, echoed similar sentiments, stressing that all victims were part of a larger trafficking system that operated across different locations. She emphasized the misconception around trafficking, stating that it extends beyond international boundaries and can occur within local establishments like Harrods.
Additional survivor accounts, such as Margo’s experience as a domestic worker post-Harrods sale and Isabella’s role in the chairman’s office, further underscore the widespread nature of the trafficking network associated with Al-Fayed.
The survivors’ narratives shed light on the complexities of human trafficking, emphasizing the need for continued investigations and support for all individuals affected. The investigation, dubbed Operation Cornpoppy, led by the Metropolitan Police, aims to uncover individuals who may have facilitated or enabled the crimes linked to Al-Fayed.
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