The Home Office has formally recognised at least five women who allege they were abused by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed as victims of modern slavery, following positive "conclusive grounds" findings via the National Referral Mechanism. The cases include instances of trafficking both internationally and within the UK, with at least one alleged to have occurred entirely inside Harrods. All four members of the advocacy group No One Above received positive decisions after referral by the charity Unseen, and Rachel Louw—who waived anonymity—described the recognition as "vindication." The Metropolitan Police's Operation Cornpoppy has widened to include trafficking; 154 potential victims have come forward.
At Least Five Women Abused by Former Harrods Owner Mohamed Al Fayed Officially Recognised As Modern Slavery Victims
Hundreds of women have accused Al Fayed of rape, sexual assault and trafficking [Getty Images]
At least five women who say they were abused by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed have been formally recognised by the Home Office as victims of modern slavery after receiving positive "conclusive grounds" decisions through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).
What the decisions mean
A positive "conclusive grounds" finding through the NRM is the UK government's formal recognition that an individual is a victim of modern slavery. Legal experts say these determinations can strengthen a witness's credibility in criminal proceedings and can influence how police investigate related offences.
Cases and circumstances
The recognised cases include survivors trafficked both internationally and within the UK. Reported details include one case in which the trafficking is said to have taken place entirely inside Harrods, another where a survivor was recruited into a false role at the store, two women who were employed in legitimate roles before being targeted on the shop floor, and a fourth who was recruited as a domestic worker for the Fayed family via a letting agency called Hyde Park Residence.
The Home Office found Rachel Louw had been subjected to sexual exploitation in the UK and France over a three-year period by Al Fayed and his brother Salah [BBC]
"Seeing it in writing that you were a victim of modern slavery and trafficking is very... it's really shocking to read," one survivor told PA Media, describing the Home Office decision as "very significant."
Rachel Louw, who has waived her anonymity, was the first publicly reported woman to receive such a decision. In its final determination the Home Office found she had been subjected to sexual exploitation in the UK and France over a three-year period by Mohamed Al Fayed and his brother Salah.
Legal context and wider investigation
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 defines human trafficking as arranging or facilitating another person's travel, within a country or across borders, for the purpose of exploitation. The Metropolitan Police's investigation, Operation Cornpoppy, is examining whether others facilitated or enabled alleged crimes by Al Fayed. The Met has broadened the inquiry to include human trafficking and said in March that four people had been interviewed under caution over offences including human trafficking for sexual exploitation and facilitating rape. So far, 154 potential victims have come forward to the investigation.
Hundreds of women have accused Mohamed Al Fayed—who owned Harrods between 1985 and 2010—of rape, sexual assault and trafficking. Al Fayed died in 2023 aged 94; his brother Salah died in 2010. Several survivors and campaign groups, including the advocacy collective No One Above (all four members of which have now received positive NRM decisions after referral by the charity Unseen), say the Home Office recognitions are an important step toward accountability and support for victims.
More NRM decisions are expected as referrals are processed and investigations continue.
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