Five Al Fayed survivors confirmed as trafficking victims by Home Office

The Home Office has formally recognised five survivors of Mohamed Al Fayed’s abuse as victims of human trafficking. The decisions, issued between May and July 2026, were made under the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the UK’s official process for identifying victims of modern slavery. All five cases were referred by the charity Unseen UK, as reported by the Press Association.

Four of the survivors worked at Harrods during the 1990s and early 2000s. The fifth was employed as a domestic worker for the Fayed family after the 2010 sale of the department store. The abuse spanned decades, with the earliest case dating to the 1990s and the most recent occurring after Harrods changed ownership.

Survivors describe systemic exploitation

Justine, a survivor who worked at Harrods for over three years in the 1990s, received her conclusive grounds decision in June 2026. She told the Press Association she felt “shell shocked” by the confirmation, which she described as “concrete” evidence that the abuse was part of a wider system of trafficking. Justine said the Home Office’s decision contradicts Harrods’ claim that the abuse was the work of “one bad man”.

Elizabeth, another former Harrods employee, received her decision in May 2026. She told the Press Association that all survivors linked to Al Fayed were victims of trafficking because the abuse was part of a single system. She criticised a persistent misunderstanding that trafficking only involves crossing international borders, noting that some survivors were exploited within the Harrods building itself.

Margo, who worked as a domestic worker for the Fayed family after Harrods was sold, was recruited through Hyde Park Residence, a letting agency. She received her conclusive grounds decision in July 2026. Margo said she initially did not recognise herself as a trafficking victim because she was unaware of domestic trafficking. She described Al Fayed’s network as extending far beyond Harrods, including properties in Balnagown, Saint-Tropez, and Fulham Football Club.

Isabella, who worked in the chairman’s office at Harrods in 2001, received her decision in May 2026. She told the Press Association that Al Fayed could not have operated alone. She said the abuse extended to his yachts, aviation business, the Ritz Paris, and properties in France, Monaco, the United States and the UAE. She added that Harrods played a role in processing and silencing victims.

What happens next

The conclusive grounds decisions entitle the survivors to support under the NRM, including access to housing, legal advice and counselling. The Home Office has not confirmed whether further referrals are under consideration. Unseen UK, which made the referrals, has not commented on whether additional survivors have come forward since the decisions were issued.

Harrods has not responded to requests for comment on the Home Office’s decisions. The Metropolitan Police has previously stated that it is reviewing allegations against Al Fayed, but no criminal charges can be brought as he died in 2023. It is unclear whether the police will investigate the role of other individuals or organisations linked to the abuse.