[REVISION HISTORY]

Metropolitan Police investigation into Mohamed Al Fayed

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2026-08-17 01:46 UTC → 2026-08-24 19:18 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Metropolitan Police is facing scrutiny regarding its handling of victims related to the investigation into the late Mohamed Al Fayed. On August 11, a “human error” during an email update for Operation Cornpoppy resulted in a data breach that exposed the email addresses of approximately 140 women who had reported sexual abuse, rape, and human trafficking. The police apologized for the ~~incident~~ incident, described the breach as occurring because recipients' addresses were visible instead of being hidden via blind copy, and referred the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office. A group representing the survivors described the incident as “appalling.” Further allegations have emerged regarding the police’s failure to fulfill legal duties toward trafficking victims. At least five survivors have been confirmed as victims of modern slavery by the Home Office. Four of these survivors reported that the Metropolitan Police failed to provide National Referral Mechanism (NRM) referrals when they initially came forward, necessitating assistance from ~~an NGO.~~ the NGO Unseen. The police have suggested there is no automatic requirement for such referrals for offenses occurring before the 2015 Modern Slavery Act, though the Home Office maintains that referrals remain possible. On August 24, the Metropolitan Police submitted a full evidential file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) concerning one suspect, a man in his 80s, regarding two indecent assaults. This follows the questioning of two individuals in their 80s on suspicion of aiding and abetting rape and sexual assault. To date, seven suspects have been interviewed under caution for various offenses, including human trafficking for sexual exploitation. Representatives from Justice for Fayed and Harrods Survivors called the submission a “significant step.”

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