Close links between Mohamed Al Fayed’s Harrods and the Met ‘felt corrupt’, ex-police chief claims

A former chief superintendent claims close ties between Mohamed Al Fayed’s Harrods shop and the Metropolitan Police “felt like a corrupt relationship”.

Stephen Otter alleges he was told in 1999 by another officer that the “special relationship” with the luxury Knightsbridge department store “benefits both us and them”.

There was a culture where officers would “provide additional resources at Christmas” and in return “hampers were provided” and “lots of drinks paid for”, Mr Otter told Sky News.

Five women who used to work at Harrods allege they were raped by billionaire Al Fayed, who died last year at the age of 94. More than 100 others claim sexual misconduct .

The Met is investigating a number of new allegations on top of reports previously made by 19 separate women between 1979 and 2013 to ensure there are “no new lines of inquiry”.

Mr Otter says when he became Kensington and Chelsea’s borough commander in 1999, the force had an Austin Mini Metro with a Harrods logo on it funded by Al Fayed.

He went to Harrods to return the car, but a security boss started making “quite a lot of complaints”, telling him: “Your officers are in here again, asking for freebies.”

Asked if he felt Met officers were corrupt, Mr Otter said: “I think they probably were, and I think the culture was that the police were welcome to come in and have food for free.”

He conducted a review which found Harrods received a disproportionate level of support, similar to the policing of a Premiership football match which “the risk just literally didn’t support the resources and the attention they got”.

Mr Otter also raised fears that the relationship with the store may have played a “very negative part” in police investigations into Al Fayed.

He added: “I just felt deeply uncomfortable with the relationship. It was a relationship in which this department store had huge amounts of power over the leaders of the areas of policing around them.

“It felt like a corrupt relationship on both sides.”

Scotland Yard declined to comment when approached by the Standard and said: “We can confirm that there’s been no referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.”

Commander Stephen Clayman added: “We recognise the significance of the allegations made against Mohamed Al Fayed and the impact this has had on those affected.

“It is vital that any victims have a voice and are able to report any allegations if they have not done so before, and know that they will be taken seriously.

“I understand that for many years many people have sought answers in relation to this case. We will do everything possible to update on our progress when we can, but it is crucial we do this thoroughly and we do it right.”

The Met said initial complaints made by 19 women were reported to the force between 2005 and 2023 - including three allegations of rape, 15 sexual assaults and one related to trafficking.

Police approached the Crown Prosecution Service five times. On two occasions, a full file of evidence was passed on in 2009 and 2015.

No further action was taken against Al Fayed in respect of the original complaints.

Michael Ward, the current managing director of Harrods worked for Al Fayed between 2006 and 2010, said he was “not aware” of the “criminality and abuse”.

Mr Ward apologised for a “shameful period in the business’s history” where colleagues were “failed”.

In a statement, he said it is clear Al Fayed “presided over a toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion and sexual misconduct”.