Metropolitan Police accused of failing trafficking victims

The Metropolitan Police has been accused of failing to fulfill its legal duty to victims of human trafficking involving the late billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed. At least five survivors have been confirmed by the Home Office as victims of modern slavery through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the UK’s official framework for identifying victims of forced labor, servitude, and trafficking.

Four survivors reported that the Metropolitan Police failed to offer them NRM referrals when they initially came forward, forcing them to seek assistance through the NGO Unseen instead. The police reportedly believe there is no automatic requirement to submit referrals for offenses occurring before the implementation of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the NRM in April 2009, though the Home Office maintains that such referrals can still be submitted.