Met Police Investigates Serving Officer and Four Ex-Officers over Al Fayed Abuse Reports

A serving Metropolitan Police officer and four former officers face investigation for potential misconduct in their handling of sexual abuse reports against Mohamed Al Fayed.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has not yet determined whether any current or former officers have a disciplinary case to answer, or would have had one if still serving.

The probe centers on complaints from four individuals, the police watchdog said in a statement.

Public allegations of sexual offenses by Al Fayed emerged in a BBC documentary after his death, which exposed some of his predatory behavior.

The Metropolitan Police disclosed in September 2024, following the BBC broadcast, that 21 women had approached it before Al Fayed's death in 2023 with accusations of sexual offenses including rape, sexual assault and trafficking. He faced no charges.

Complaints from two of the women, reported in 2008, were referred to the IOPC in November 2024.

The IOPC confirmed it directed an investigation into Metropolitan Police officers starting in January 2025. The Metropolitan Police's Directorate of Professional Standards is conducting the work under IOPC direction and control.

The watchdog stated: "At this stage, five individuals – a serving Met officer and four former Met officers – have been advised that they are being investigated for potential misconduct."

A separate investigation into the police handling of the allegations, overseen by the IOPC, began in January 2025. A third complaint was referred in February 2025.

The IOPC said the investigation continues and involves reports from four victim-survivors. This marks the first confirmation that a serving officer and former officers specifically are under scrutiny.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "We are assisting the IOPC as it carries out an independent investigation into our handling of reports of sexual offending by Mohamed Al Fayed. As part of this, the IOPC is investigating complaints against five officers. One serving and four former officers are being investigated for potential misconduct. The serving of notices does not mean that misconduct proceedings will necessarily follow."