Harrods sets aside £51.8m for Fayed abuse claims

Harrods has paid £4.1 million in compensation to survivors of abuse perpetrated by its former owner Mohamed Al Fayed, with a further £51.8 million set aside for future claims. The figures are detailed in the department store's accounts up to January 31 this year.

Survivors' lawyers dispute compensation figures

KP Law, a firm representing over 275 survivors, has stated that the true value of its clients' compensation claims could be double or triple the amount Harrods has reserved, potentially reaching between £100 million and £150 million. The firm described the department store's redress scheme as an 'insult' and 'a disgrace'.

Cheska Hill-Wood, who began working at Harrods in 1993 at the age of 19, told the Press Association that abuse began almost immediately after she started. She described the redress scheme, which was open for one year, as being imposed on survivors who had been campaigning for nearly 40 years. 'What they were offering was not taking survivors seriously,' Ms Hill-Wood said.

Jen Mills, survivor co-chair of the Justice for Fayed and Harrods Survivors campaign, also stated that the amount Harrods budgeted was insufficient. She joined Harrods as a management trainee at 16 and worked for Al Fayed for five years, during which she alleges she was abused. Ms Mills said threats were made to prevent her from leaving her role.

Police investigation into abuse allegations

More than 400 allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against Al Fayed and associated individuals, spanning from 1977 to 2014. These allegations include sexual assault, rape, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking. The Metropolitan Police is currently investigating at least 159 victims as part of Operation Cornpoppy, which was launched in November 2024. The investigation is examining individuals who may have facilitated or enabled Al Fayed's alleged crimes.

Approximately 30 survivors and supporters gathered outside Harrods on Friday to mark the second anniversary of a BBC documentary that brought the abuse scandal to public attention. They were joined by MPs Dave Robertson and Wendy Chamberlain, co-chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Survivors of Fayed and Harrods.

A spokesperson for Harrods stated that the company supports the bravery of all survivors who come forward and encouraged them to pursue all avenues for justice, including the police and the Fayed family and estate. Harrods was contacted for further comment.