Met Police failed trafficking victims linked to Mohamed Al Fayed, survivors say

The Metropolitan Police failed in its legal duty to refer victims of human trafficking linked to the late Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed, four survivors have told the Press Association. The Home Office confirmed at least five survivors of modern slavery under the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the UK’s official framework for identifying victims of trafficking and forced labour.

The NRM allows victims to access support and provides the government with data on modern slavery. Police, as statutory first responders, are legally required to refer suspected victims to the NRM, regardless of whether the offences occurred before the mechanism was established in 2009 or the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Survivors forced to self-refer

Four survivors, who have all received conclusive grounds decisions confirming they were victims of modern slavery, said the Met did not offer them NRM referrals when they reported abuse. Instead, they made self-initiated referrals through the anti-slavery charity Unseen.

The survivors believe the Met did not offer referrals to anyone who came forward about Al Fayed until April 2026. The Met has argued there is no automatic requirement to refer offences predating 2009 or 2015, but the Home Office states the historical nature of the exploitation is irrelevant for referral purposes.

Margo, a pseudonym for a domestic worker employed by the Al Fayed family after the 2010 sale of Harrods, reported her experience to police in 2024. The Met did not offer her an NRM referral at the time. She was only contacted by police in April 2026, after the BBC reported that another survivor, Rachel Louw, had received a conclusive grounds decision.

Margo had already begun the referral process through Unseen by then. She received a positive conclusive grounds decision in July 2026. She described the Met’s approach as "reactive as opposed to proactive" throughout the investigation.

Operation Cornpoppy’s scope

The Met’s investigation, Operation Cornpoppy, was launched in November 2024. It is examining more than 400 allegations of sexual misconduct against Al Fayed, dating between 1977 and 2014, including sexual assault, rape, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Seven people have been questioned under caution in connection with the investigation. This includes four women aged between their 40s and 80s, and three men, one in his 60s, one in his 80s, and one of unknown age.

Legal duty and police response

Elizabeth, another survivor who worked at Harrods, reported her experience when Operation Cornpoppy was launched. The Met did not offer her an NRM referral, but she self-referred through Unseen and received a conclusive grounds decision in May 2026.

She said the Met’s failure to comply with its legal duty was a "very serious issue". "It’s how we recognise the prevalence of this very, very serious crime in the UK," she told the Press Association. "To not comply with that duty is a very serious issue."

Justine, who worked at Harrods in the 1990s, reported her experience to police in 2018. The Met did not offer her an NRM referral. She self-referred through Unseen and received a conclusive grounds decision in June 2026. "The Met had a duty to refer all of us that have been reporting to them about this," she said.

The Met has not responded to requests for comment on the survivors’ claims. It is unclear whether the force will review its handling of NRM referrals in historical cases.

What happens next

Operation Cornpoppy remains ongoing. Survivors who have received conclusive grounds decisions may now access support services through the NRM. It is unclear whether the Met will take further action to address the failures identified by survivors.