Greater than 100 survivors of alleged sexual abuse by the previous Harrods proprietor Mohamed Al Fayed have entered the corporate’s compensation scheme, the posh division retailer has confirmed.The retailer arrange the scheme after dozens of girls got here ahead with allegations of abuse by the late entrepreneur going again so far as 1977 after the published final yr of the BBC documentary Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods.On Tuesday, Harrods confirmed candidates to a compensation scheme arrange in March had began receiving compensation.These eligible can apply for quite a few forms of redress together with normal damages of as much as £200,000 and a piece influence fee of as much as £150,000 in addition to funds for “wrongful testing” and remedy prices.All eligible candidates are supplied a gathering with a senior Harrods’ consultant to obtain an apology in individual or by video, in addition to a person written apology.The scheme, developed with the legislation agency MPL Authorized and funded by Harrods, will stay reside till 31 March subsequent yr. The corporate has emphasised that the scheme doesn’t require survivors to endure medical evaluation and claims will be primarily based on “documentary proof” with out alleged victims having to talk in individual about their experiences.In a three-month replace, the shop introduced that survivors who had been employed by Fayed’s non-public airline firm Fayair (Jersey) Co Ltd and declare to have suffered abuse earlier than 7 Could 2010 – when Al Fayed offered the enterprise – can now additionally apply to the scheme.“For the reason that redress scheme’s inception, greater than 100 survivors have entered the method, with many having had eligibility confirmed,” Harrods mentioned. “Compensation awards and interim funds started being issued to eligible survivors on the finish of April. Survivors are making use of each the non-medical and medical pathways.”The Metropolitan police mentioned final yr that 111 girls had made allegations towards Fayed; the youngest is believed to have been 13 on the time.The Met has apologised to alleged victims of Fayed for the misery they suffered. Complaints towards the Met over its dealing with of allegations shall be investigated by the drive itself below the route of the Impartial Workplace for Police Conduct (IOPC).The Met can also be reviewing 21 allegations that had been made earlier than Fayed died in 2023, and referred two of those to the IOPC in November.In paperwork on the scheme’s web site, Harrods “apologises unreservedly” for the sexual abuse individuals suffered and “needs everybody who’s eligible to obtain this compensation”.If an individual makes a profitable software and accepts a suggestion, it’s handled as “full and last settlement”, that means they waive their proper to pursue motion for damages.
Info and assist for anybody affected by rape or sexual abuse points is on the market from the next organisations. Within the UK, Rape Disaster provides assist on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Eire. Within the US, Rainn provides assist on 800-656-4673. In Australia, assist is on the market at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Different worldwide helplines will be discovered at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
