Starmer says Mohamed Al Fayed sex abuse claims ‘never crossed’ his desk as DPP
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Sir Keir Starmer has said sex abuse allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed “never crossed” his desk during his tenure as director of public prosecutions. The Prime Minister, who served as head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) from 2008 to 2013, was questioned in the Commons as to why he “declined to instigate a prosecution for rape and sexual abuse” against the former owner of luxury department store Harrods.
More than 100 alleged victims have contacted police to say they were sexually abused by Mr Al Fayed, the youngest of whom is thought to have been 13 at the time. A number of allegations were made against him while he was still alive. Investigators twice sent files for a charging decision to the CPS, once in 2008 relating to three alleged victims and again in 2015 linked to one other.
During Prime Minister’s Questions – which was dominated by the clash between Sir Keir and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch over a national inquiry on grooming gangs – Tory MP Sir Roger Gale raised the case of Mr Al Fayed. The member for Herne Bay and Sandwich said: “The Prime Minister from that despatch box has made much of his service as the public prosecutor.
“So could he tell the House in that capacity, why during his time he declined to instigate a prosecution for rape and sexual abuse against Mohamed Fayed?”. Sir Keir replied: “That case never crossed my desk.”. The Prime Minister also faced attacks over his Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq, who he said has “acted appropriately” in referring herself for investigation following controversies over properties linked to her family.
