Chamberlain calls on Police Scotland to reopen investigation into Mohamed Fayed

Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader Wendy Chamberlain MP has today written to Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell to urge the service to consider reopening their investigation into former Harrods owner Mohamed Fayed.

Fayed, who died in August 2023, is accused of committing sexual abuse on an industrial scale.

He purchased Balnagown Castle and Estate in 1972 and the estate served as his main Scottish base for decades. It is still owned as part of his family’s holdings.

In September 2024 it was revealed that Police Scotland had investigated a report of a “non-recent sexual assault” by Fayed at the Balnagown Estate. At the time, Police Scotland declared “enquiries are now complete” but added that the case “could be reopened should new information be obtained or reported.”

More than 400 survivors have come forward, and the Metropolitan Police is investigating almost 150 allegations. Fayed is accused of numerous counts of rape and sexual assault – as well as drugging his victims and trafficking them across international borders.

An all-party parliamentary group has now been set up.

Although Fayed escaped justice, his network of enablers can still be held to account:

• Fayed’s security team, who intimidated survivors into silence.
• His lawyers, who signed non-disclosure agreements but failed to raise the alarm.
• His doctors carried out invasive medical exams, including STI testing, on female staff without their consent.
• Senior Harrods staff, who at best turned a blind eye and at worst groomed survivors.

The APPG will work to:

• Monitor the Metropolitan Police investigation into Fayed’s network of enablers.
• Support civil claims against Harrods, ensuring survivors receive recognition of the failures that enabled abuse.
• Push for cultural reform at Harrods and other implicated institutions.
• Ultimately advocate for a full inquiry into the scandal.

The letter from APPG co-chairs Wendy Chamberlain and Dave Robertson is as follows:

Dear Chief Constable

Re: Investigation into the alleged crimes of Fayed in Scotland

We are writing to you as the Co-Chairs of the newly formed All Party Parliamentary Group for the Survivors of Fayed and Harrods.

We appreciate that you had previously closed your investigation into the reports of trafficking and sexual abuse by Fayed. However we note there are ongoing investigations by the Metropolitan Police, in addition to interest of the Independent Office of Police Conduct into the handling of earlier complaints. On this basis, we are writing to ask whether you are considering re-opening your investigation.

If you are not currently considering re-opening your investigation, we urge you to assess the merits of doing so.

The scale of the offences Fayed is accused of is vast. There are more than 400 known survivors, with more women coming forward. Given the earliest known allegation against Fayed dates back to 1977, the reports of trafficking, and accounts of horrendous sexual abuse taking place over international borders, it seems entirely likely that crimes were committed within Scotland.

We look forward to your response.

Kind regards

Wendy Chamberlain

MP for North East Fife

Co-chair APPG for Survivors of Fayed and Harrods