The Metropolitan Police has apologised to alleged victims of Mohamed Al Fayed for the distress they suffered because he will never face justice.
Scotland Yard has promised to answer questions about its ongoing investigation into 40 allegations relating to the former Harrods boss, including rape and sexual misconduct.
In an unusual move, the force will send the alleged victims a video statement on Friday to provide an update on its inquiry, which was launched last September but currently has no timescale.
These relate to Al Fayed — who died in 2023, aged 94 — as well as others who reportedly enabled his alleged abuse.
But the Met have decided against holding an in-person or online meeting, with the alleged victims because of concerns about anonymity and the potential to harm testimony for any future trial.
Detective Chief Superintendent Angela Craggs, who is leading the Met’s investigation, said she was "acutely aware the case is especially distressing to all those who have suffered".
She wrote: "Not least due to the fact that the main suspect will now never directly face justice for his crimes, and for this I am truly sorry.”
Ms Craggs has asked the alleged victims to submit questions, which she promised will be answered in the video statement.
However, some of the late Egyptian businessman’s accusers questioned whether officers are giving the case the "gravitas and attention" it deserves.
Pelham Spong, who claims to have been sexually assaulted by Al Fayed in her 20s back in 2008, said it was "difficult to place a huge amount of trust" in the Met.
My fear is that most of our questions will remain unanswered
She told the BBC: "My fear is that most of our questions will remain unanswered, and we'll merely be given vague promises of change and accountability with no real action.
“It is hard to know what to expect and it is difficult to place a huge amount of trust in the process when the police have ignored and silenced so many victims for several decades."
In 2017, detectives investigating claims against Al Fayed — the father of Princess Diana's boyfriend Dodi Fayed, who died with her in a 1997 Paris car crash — were "unable to obtain an account from the suspect owing to his poor state of health”. The case was subsequently closed.
Separate civil cases involving hundreds of women are ongoing.
A Met spokesman said: "We continue to support all victims and we urge anyone with information, whether they were directly affected by Mohamed Al Fayed's actions or aware of others who may have been involved, or committed offences to come forward.
"We cannot comment further at this time, but will provide an update as soon as we are able to and where this won't jeopardise criminal or other proceedings."
