More than 100 individuals who allege they were sexually abused by the late former owner of Harrods, Mohamed Al Fayed, have joined the retailer’s compensation program, the company has confirmed.
The initiative was established after numerous women came forward with allegations of abuse by Al Fayed, dating back to 1977. This followed the airing of a BBC documentary last year titled *Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods.*
On Tuesday, Harrods announced that applicants to the program, launched in March, had begun receiving settlements. Eligible claimants can seek various forms of redress, including general damages of up to £200,000, work-related impact payments of up to £150,000, as well as compensation for inappropriate testing and treatment expenses.
All qualified applicants are provided an opportunity to meet with a senior Harrods representative, either in person or via video, to receive an apology. They will also be given a written apology.
The program, created in collaboration with law firm MPL Legal and financed by Harrods, will remain open until 31 March next year. The company emphasized that participants are not required to undergo medical evaluations, and claims can be supported by documented evidence without victims needing to recount their experiences directly.
In a recent update, Harrods stated that individuals who worked at Al Fayed’s former private airline, Fayair (Jersey) Co Ltd, and claim to have suffered abuse before May 2010—when he sold the company—are now also eligible to apply.
“Since the program began, over 100 survivors have entered the process, with many already having their eligibility confirmed,” Harrods said. “Compensation and interim payments started being distributed to eligible individuals at the end of April. Participants are utilizing both medical and non-medical pathways for claims.”
Last year, police reported that 111 women had made allegations against Al Fayed, with the youngest believed to have been 13 at the time.
Authorities have apologized to those affected for the distress they endured. Complaints regarding the police’s handling of the allegations will be reviewed internally under oversight from an independent regulatory body.
Additionally, police are examining 21 allegations made before Al Fayed’s death in 2023, with two of these cases referred to the oversight body in November.
In materials on the program’s website, Harrods expresses an “unreserved apology” for the abuse suffered and states its intention to ensure all eligible individuals receive compensation.
Successful applicants who accept an offer will be considered to have reached a “full and final settlement,” meaning they forfeit the right to pursue further legal action.
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