Serving Met officer and four ex-officers investigated for handling of Al Fayed allegations

A serving Metropolitan Police Officer and four former officers are being investigated for potential misconduct over the handling of reports of sexual abuse made against Mohamed Al Fayed.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it was yet to decide whether any current or former officers have – or would have had if they were still serving – a disciplinary case to answer.

The investigation involves reports made by four individuals, the police watchdog said in a statement.

Public claims of sexual offences by Al Fayed arose in a BBC documentary after his death, which revealed just some of his predatory behaviour.

Hundreds of women have since accused the former Harrods owner of rape, sexual assault and trafficking.

It was only after the BBC broadcast in September 2024 that the Met revealed it had been approached by 21 women before Al Fayed's death in 2023, who accused him of sexual offences including rape, sexual assault and trafficking. However, he was never charged with any offences.

The complaints of two of the women, whose allegations were reported in 2008, were referred to the IOPC in November 2024.

The watchdog confirmed that it began its directed investigation into the Met officers in January 2025, and that it was being carried out by the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards under the IOPC's direction and control.

It said: "At this stage, five individuals – a serving Met officer and four former Met officers – have been advised that they are being investigated for potential misconduct."

An investigation into how their allegations were handled by the Met, overseen by the watchdog, was launched in January 2025 and with a third complaint referred in February 2025.

The IPOC confirmed the investigation was "continuing" and involved reports made by four victim-survivors. This is the first time it confirmed a serving and former officers were being specifically investigated.

A Met Police spokesperson said: "We are assisting the IOPC as it carries out an independent investigation into our handling of reports of sexual offending by Mohammed Al-Fayed.

"As part of this, the IOPC is investigating complaints against five officers. One serving and four former officers are being investigated for potential misconduct. The serving of notices does not mean that misconduct proceedings will necessarily follow.

"Our investigation into individuals who may have facilitated or enabled offending by Mohamed Al Fayed remains active."

It is understood the serving officer under investigation is not on restricted duties.

It said that 154 victims had come forward and reported allegations of sexual assault, rape, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.