Statutory Public Inquiry

Only a Statutory Public Inquiry has the power to compel witnesses to give evidence. Without a statutory inquiry, survivors – and the public – will never know how Fayed, his associates, and the organizations they controlled, were able to operate a system of abuse in plain sight. The truth must be revealed so that lessons can be learned.

NOA welcomes the APPG for the Survivors of Fayed and Harrods

NOA welcomes the announcement of the APPG for Survivors of Fayed and Harrods. This is the first step toward recognising the devastating impact of organised sexual abuse and trafficking linked to one of Britain’s most celebrated institutions.

We hope that the APPG will provide a safe, trauma-informed forum for all survivors by centring their voices and needs. We especially welcome the perspectives and support of parliamentarians and experts from academia, the third sector and the law, and we urge that the APPG Terms of Reference include the facts of trafficking in relation to the Fayed/Harrods case – and the adequacy of ongoing investigations.

Read NOA's statement on the APPG

NOA members' call for a statutory public inquiry

Letter to the Prime Minister: Request for a Statutory Public Inquiry

In May 2025, NOA members and allies delivered a formal letter to 10 Downing Street requesting that the UK Government establish a statutory public inquiry into serious allegations of sexual abuse, exploitation, and institutional failure involving Harrods, the late Mohamed Al Fayed, and associated individuals and entities.

The letter detailed survivors’ reports of long-term abuse, systemic cover-ups, and the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) and intimidation to silence victims, alongside failures by Harrods management, law enforcement, and public authorities to act appropriately. It called for an inquiry to determine how such abuses were allowed to persist, assess the conduct of those in positions of power, and affirm that influence and wealth do not place anyone above accountability.

The proposed inquiry would examine internal safeguarding failures, the role of Al Fayed and his associates, the response of public institutions, and the mechanisms used to suppress complaints. Survivors and advocates expressed their willingness to support the process to ensure it is trauma-informed, credible, and transparent.

With growing media and parliamentary attention and parallels to other high-profile abuse scandals, the submission underscored the urgent public need for truth, justice, and systemic reform.

Reply: Home Office Interpersonal Abuse Unit

Thank you for your letter of 4 June 2025 and of 12 June 2025 to the Prime Minister. Your correspondence has been passed to the Interpersonal Abuse Unit at the Home Office for a response.

We recognise the devastating impact sexual violence and trafficking for sexual exploitation can have. The Government expects every report of a sexual offence to be treated seriously from the point of disclosure, every victim to be treated with dignity and every investigation and prosecution to be conducted thoroughly and professionally.

While we would encourage every victim to report crimes committed against them, it is important to explain that that the Government and its Ministers are unable to intervene in, or comment on, the circumstances of individual cases. We must stress that this is not because of a lack of concern, but because it is a fundamental principle of our criminal justice system that the police and courts are operationally independent of Government. The establishment of an inquiry requires careful consideration, particularly where there may be related criminal or other ongoing official proceedings taking place.

You may wish to note that violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a top priority for this Government, and it is being treated as a national emergency. The Government’s mission is to halve the levels of these crimes within a decade, using every lever available. To achieve this, we must overhaul every aspect of society’s response to these devastating crimes. This means reforming the police response, strengthening the criminal justice system, and empowering victims by providing access to specialist support when they need it. To help achieve this, we are also developing a new cross-Government VAWG strategy which will be published this year and set out the strategic direction and concrete actions to
deliver on the Government’s VAWG ambition.

Read NOA's commentary on the Government's VAWG strategy

Don't public inquiries take years and the recommendations are ignored?

Public inquiries have come under scrutiny for offering at best delayed accountability over a prolonged, costly and sometimes re-traumatising process for survivors. The recommendations produced are often shelved. We agree with these concerns. However, there is no other vehicle to expose the truth and learn lessons from significant institutional failings – especially where perpetrators have successfully obstructed survivors' path to justice.

NOA supports the recommendations of the Lords report on Public Inquiries: Enhancing Public Trust – specifically that inquiries should be shorter and their recommendations should be tracked (see commentary in the Guardian).