In 2017, American woman Pelham Spong reported to authorities that Mohamed Al Fayed had assaulted her a decade earlier. However, the investigation was abruptly closed after police cited Al Fayed’s poor health as the reason for being unable to obtain his account. Spong’s lawyers argue that this decision reflects a broader issue within the Metropolitan Police, suggesting an "apathy towards victims" or an "institutional desire to insulate Mr Al Fayed from prosecution."
The investigation into Spong's allegations faced criticism due to alleged procedural shortcomings. Her lawyers contend that the police failed to rigorously examine the medical evidence provided by Al Fayed, raising concerns about the thoroughness of the investigation. Additionally, crucial witnesses such as doctors, a recruiter who recommended Spong for her position, and Harrods staff were not formally approached for statements that might have substantiated Spong’s claims.
Pelham Spong was required to undergo an intimate medical examination as part of her job application process at Harrods. The results of this examination were passed on to Al Fayed, who subsequently appeared to be aware of her minor medical condition. This revelation adds another layer to the complex web of allegations and investigations surrounding this case.
The Metropolitan Police has also been scrutinized for its failure to challenge Al Fayed's claim of being too ill to respond to the allegations. Their approach in handling the historical nature of the allegation meant no tangible evidence, such as CCTV footage or forensic data, could be retrieved. Furthermore, a key administrative error saw police request records from the wrong company, seeking information from the firm managing Spong's apartment block rather than Harrods itself.
"The police… ought to have been more thorough in assessing the substance and veracity" of the medical evidence provided by Al Fayed. – Pelham Spong's IOPC complaint
Spong filed a complaint with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), asserting that the decision to terminate the investigation was "premature and flawed." The IOPC now faces a pivotal choice: reject the complaint, conduct its own investigation, or refer the case back to the Met for further examination under its supervision.
"These investigative failures, particularly when viewed alongside the now disclosed prior and concurrent accounts from other women and girls alleging similar misconduct by Mr Al Fayed, suggest a concerning pattern of systemic inaction by the Met." – Pelham Spong's IOPC complaint
The Met confirmed it was aware of 21 allegations against Al Fayed prior to a BBC documentary that aired last year. Despite more women coming forward with their stories, those voices seemingly went unheard.
"More women did, in fact, come forward to tell their stories of abuse to the Met, and others had before me, and it didn't make any difference. The Met did nothing." – Pelham Spong
The situation has drawn comments from leading figures in advocacy and law. Sigrid McCawley condemned the lack of protection for survivors who reported abuse.
"Too many survivors were victims of Fayed and they reported to police. They got zero protection. That's appalling and it has to stop." – Sigrid McCawley
Pelham Spong herself expressed frustration over what she perceives as a double standard in how her case was handled.
"It's beyond unacceptable. They wouldn't do that with any other suspect – they would have been prosecuted." – Pelham Spong
In response to these events, the Metropolitan Police have pledged to transform their approach to investigating sexual offences, emphasizing victim-centric processes. The police are also investigating individuals who may have facilitated Al Fayed's alleged abusive behavior.