At least five individuals who survived sexual abuse by Mohamed Al-Fayed, the billionaire owner of Harrods, were found to be victims of human trafficking. Their ordeals involved both international and local trafficking, including incidents within the Harrods premises itself. One survivor was deceived into a fake job at Harrods, while two others were initially employed legitimately but later subjected to abuse away from the public eye.
Another survivor, who worked as a domestic worker for a member of the Fayed family, was recruited through a rental agency. These incidents span back to the nineties, with the most recent occurring post the 2010 sale of Harrods.
All five survivors were officially recognized as victims of modern slavery by the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) following referrals from the charity Unseen UK. The NRM serves as the official system for identifying modern slavery victims in the UK, encompassing human trafficking, forced labor, and servitude.
Various authorities, including the police, Border Force, the National Crime Agency, and local councils, are mandated to offer NRM referrals to any adult reasonably suspected of being a modern slavery victim. Additionally, organizations like Unseen, the Salvation Army, Bernardo’s, and the Refugee Council can also make non-statutory referrals.
Rachel Louw received a positive confirmation of being a modern slavery victim after reporting mistreatment by Mohamed and Salah Al-Fayed. Subsequently, all four members of the advocacy group No One Above, supporting Al-Fayed survivors, also received similar recognition.
To safeguard their identities, the survivors Justine, Elizabeth, Margo, and Isabella used pseudonyms. Justine, who worked at Harrods in the nineties and faced trafficking and abuse, emphasized the significance of receiving official acknowledgment as a modern slavery victim.
Elizabeth, another former Harrods employee, was affirmed as a modern slavery victim in May. She stressed that all victims were part of a systemic trafficking network, dispelling the notion that the abuse was solely the actions of one individual.
Margo, employed as a domestic worker post-Harrods sale, was recognized as a trafficking victim in July. She highlighted the extent of the trafficking network beyond Harrods, encompassing various locations and businesses associated with Al-Fayed.
Isabella, who worked at Harrods in 2001, also received confirmation of being trafficked. She shed light on the widespread exploitation facilitated by Al-Fayed across multiple entities under his control.
The survivors’ accounts collectively debunked the misconception that human trafficking only involves international movement, with instances of trafficking occurring within the confines of Harrods. The ongoing investigation, Operation Cornpoppy, is scrutinizing individuals who may have abetted or enabled Al-Fayed’s crimes.
The survivors’ revelations have prompted more self-initiated referrals through Unseen UK, underscoring the need for continued awareness and action against modern slavery.
