The London police are facing criticism for their handling of the Mohamed Al Fayed case, where hundreds of women have accused him of rape or sexual assault. Despite the allegations, Al Fayed was never investigated while he was alive. The police have now shifted their focus to five individuals who may have enabled Al Fayed’s alleged actions over a span of 35 years.
Since a BBC documentary shed light on the case in September, the police have been contacted by numerous victims, with some reporting multiple offenses. The total number of victims is estimated to be around 90, including a 13-year-old girl. The police have reviewed over 50,000 pages of documents, including victim testimonies, to identify any missed opportunities in the past.
Victims’ rights advocates, such as lawyer Bruce Drummond, have criticized the police for their delayed response to the allegations. Drummond, who represents some of Al Fayed’s victims, mentioned that many complaints were filed with the police but no action was taken. He has received over 400 testimonies related to the case and continues to receive new ones regularly.
Former police investigator Zoë Billingham highlighted the lack of centralization in handling the complaints, stating that multiple women had filed complaints individually. The recent announcement of an in-depth investigation into possible accomplices of Al Fayed has raised questions about whether it is sufficient to address the concerns of the survivors.
Emma Jones, another lawyer representing Al Fayed’s accusers, expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the current police initiatives, describing them as too little and too late for the survivors. She emphasized the need to rebuild public trust in an institution that has failed to properly investigate such cases in the past.
The gap between public perception of the police and their actual responses to crimes must be addressed, according to Billingham. Restoring confidence in the police and ensuring justice for the victims of Al Fayed’s alleged offenses will require a thorough and transparent investigation into the matter.
