More than 100 survivors of alleged sexual abuse enter Harrods' scheme for compensation

The Guardian

5 days ago

More than 100 survivors of alleged sexual abuse by the former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed have entered the company's compensation scheme, the luxury department store has confirmed.
The retailer set up the scheme after dozens of women came forward with allegations of abuse by the late entrepreneur going back as far as 1977 after the broadcast last year of the BBC documentary Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods.
On Tuesday, Harrods confirmed applicants to a compensation scheme set up in March had started receiving compensation.
Those eligible can apply for a number of types of redress including general damages of up to £200,000 and a work impact payment of up to £150,000 as well as payments for 'wrongful testing' and treatment costs.
All eligible applicants are offered a meeting with a senior Harrods' representative to receive an apology in person or by video, as well as an individual written apology.
The scheme, developed with law firm MPL Legal and funded by Harrods, will remain live until 31 March next year. The company has stressed that the scheme does not require survivors to undergo medical assessment and claims can be based on 'documentary evidence' without alleged victims having to speak in person about their experiences.
In a three-month update, the store announced that survivors who were employed by Fayed's private airline company Fayair (Jersey) Co Ltd and claim to have suffered abuse before 7 May 2010 – when Al Fayed sold the business – can now also apply to the scheme.
'Since the redress scheme's inception, more than 100 survivors have entered the process, with many having had eligibility confirmed,' Harrods said.
'Compensation awards and interim payments began being issued to eligible survivors at the end of April. Survivors are making use of both the non-medical and medical pathways.'
The Metropolitan police said last year that 111 women had made allegations against Fayed, the youngest of whom is thought to have been 13 at the time.
The force has apologised to alleged victims of Fayed for the distress they had suffered. Complaints against the Met over its handling of allegations will be investigated by the force itself under the direction of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The Met is also reviewing 21 allegations that were made before Fayed died in 2023, and referred two of these to the IOPC in November.
In documents on the scheme's website, Harrods 'apologises unreservedly' for the sexual abuse people suffered and 'wants everyone who is eligible to receive this compensation'.
If a person makes a successful application and accepts an offer, it is treated as 'full and final settlement', meaning they waive their right to pursue action for damages.
Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html