Harrods Redress Scheme

Harrods is a world-renowned, luxury department store located in Knightsbridge, London, currently owned by the Qatar Investment Authority.

Harrods is one of the largest department stores in Europe, with departments spread across seven floors, across over 1,100,000 square feet of exhibiting space.

Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner and chairman of Harrods, has been accused of committing multiple sexual assaults including rape, attempted rape, sexual battery, and abuse of minors over a 25-year period.

More than 20 former female employees of Harrods have come forward, alleging that Fayed used his position of power to sexually abuse them while leading what has been described as a toxic and unsafe workplace.

Legal teams and investigative media, including the Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods documentary, allege that not only did Fayed engage in systematic abuse, but that Harrods failed to intervene and even helped cover up the allegations during his ownership.

Yes, the Harrods Redress Scheme is confidential. Information provided in the Scheme Application Form and related documents will only be shared as necessary within the Scheme or as required by law.

Disclosure is limited to relevant parties such as MPL Legal, the Scheme Medical Expert, the Scheme Barrister, the Costs Expert, and specific individuals at Harrods.

Documents are treated as ‘without prejudice’ and cannot be used in future legal proceedings unless both parties agree or the law requires it.

To be eligible for the Scheme an Applicant must prove their identity and then provide written evidence and/or Documentation to prove, on the Balance of Probabilities, that:

• they were subjected to Sexual Assault / Wrongful Testing.
• Harrods is Vicariously Liable for the Sexual Assault / Wrongful Testing.

MPL Legal, on behalf of Harrods, will within 28 days of receipt of the Scheme Application Form or other Documentation requested, if later, determine whether the Applicant is eligible. Written reasons will be given for that decision.

Personal injury claims involving sexual abuse not fulfilling the criteria at paragraph 8.1 in the Redress scheme documentation may be considered by MPL Legal, on behalf of Harrods, on a case-by-case basis.

While Harrods has publicly apologised, Harrods offers to provide a personal apology to each eligible Applicant. All Eligible Applicants will be offered an individual written apology.

Eligible applicants will also be offered a meeting with a senior representative from Harrods to receive an apology in person, or by video if this is preferable.

Eligible Applicants can request an apology at any point in the process. Unless the eligible applicant prefers otherwise, it is proposed the apology takes place at the conclusion of the application.

Eligible Applicants can request interim payments. The request should set out the level of interim payment sought.

MPL Legal, on behalf of Harrods, will determine the (i) eligibility for and (ii) amount of the interim payment. This determination will be made within 28 days of either the receipt of the request or receipt of the Scheme Application Form or other Documentation requested, if later.

Eligibility for an interim payment and the level of an interim payment will be at the discretion of MPL Legal.

Any interim payment awarded will be set off against the Final Compensation Amount paid to the Eligible Applicant by Harrods under the Scheme.

Where an Eligible Applicant pursues civil litigation and receives or agrees damages for the Wrongful Conduct in respect of which the interim payment was made, Harrods shall be entitled to deduct the interim payment(s) from any damages awarded.

This interim payment will be made 21 days after the Eligible Applicant has signed an undertaking acknowledging the obligation to account for the monies as set out at paragraph 11.4. of the Redress Scheme.

The Harrods Redress Scheme offers two compensation pathways for survivors of sexual assault Medical and Non-Medical- depending on whether the applicant wishes to undergo a medical assessment.

• Non-Medical Pathway
  For applicants who do not wish to undergo a medical assessment or provide medical records. It offers faster access to compensation but is limited to damages that don’t require proof of psychiatric injury.

Compensation includes:

• Up to £110,000 for general damages
• Up to £25,000 in aggravated damages
• Up to £10,000 for wrongful testing
• Up to £5,000 for past treatment costs (discretionary)

Medical Pathway
For applicants who believe they have suffered psychiatric injury. A medical assessment by a Scheme Medical Expert is required, including full disclosure of medical records.

Compensation includes:

• Up to £200,000 for general damages
• Up to £25,000 in aggravated damages
• Up to £10,000 for wrongful testing
• Past and future treatment costs as advised by the medical expert
• A Work Impact Payment of up to £150,000, based on a set formula

Applicants can switch between pathways at any point before signing the final settlement.

Harrods recognises and respects all survivors’ right to proceed with any legal route to redress. As such use of the Scheme is entirely voluntary.

Eligible Applicants can leave the Scheme at any time prior to them accepting an offer.

Any offers by either Party are void once an Eligible Applicant has left the Scheme.

Survivors who settled claims following a sexual assault, whether or not they were subject to a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), prior to 2010 may apply to the scheme.

MPL Legal, on behalf of Harrods, will consider whether the eligible applicant is eligible to have their previous settlement re-considered.

Harrods will not seek to enforce or seek any penalties in relation to disclosure of matters which has previously been covered by an NDA following a Sexual Assault.

The amount of compensation received by the eligible applicant in relation to historical settlements may be offset against any offer/settlement in the scheme.

• Harrods’ formal statement
• The Harrods Redress Scheme has been published and is available here.
• Harrods Redress Scheme – Q&As 31/03/2025
• Contact Dame Jasvinder, Harrods Independent Survivor Advocate
• Contact MPL Legal
• Contact Molly Frost – Oakwood Solicitors’ Abuse Claims Solicitor