The Rulings Cover All Four Members of the Survivor Advocacy Group No One Above, Who Were Referred by the Anti-slavery Charity Unseen

At least five women abused by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed have been formally recognized by the Home Office as victims of modern slavery, with more rulings expected. The latest decisions include cases of trafficking both internationally and within the UK, one of which occurred entirely inside the department store. Rachel Louw, who waived her anonymity, was the first to receive such a ruling in April.

Since then, four other women have received positive 'conclusive grounds' decisions through the National Referral Mechanism, the UK's official framework for identifying victims. The rulings cover all four members of the survivor advocacy group No One Above, who were referred by the anti-slavery charity Unseen. One survivor was recruited to a fake role at Harrods, two were employed in legitimate positions before being targeted, and a fourth worked as a domestic employee for the Fayed family.

One survivor called the decision 'very significant' and 'really shocking to read. Louw, who was exploited in the UK and France over three years by Al Fayed and his brother Salah, said she felt 'vindication and validation. Hundreds of women have accused Al Fayed, who owned Harrods from 1985 to 2010, of rape, sexual assault, and trafficking.

He died in 2023 aged 94 without facing charges. The Metropolitan Police's Operation Cornpoppy has broadened to include human trafficking, with four people interviewed under caution and 154 victims reporting allegations. "conclusive grounds"