The Metropolitan Police say they are conducting a “detailed and thorough” review after facing criticism over how they dealt with allegations against Mohamed al Fayed.
The force was contacted by 21 different women who made allegations against the former Harrods and Fulham FC owner, including rape and sexual assault, between 2005 and 2023.
A file of evidence was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to decide whether to charge the billionaire, who died last year aged 94, in just two of those cases in 2009 and 2015.
But prosecutors didn’t go ahead with either because there was not “a realistic prospect of conviction”.
The Met approached the CPS for “early investigative advice” over 10 other allegations, but no further action was taken.
No further action was taken in the nine other cases after the allegations were reviewed by officers – two because Fayed had already died.
A total of 60 more allegations have been made following a BBC documentary featuring women who accused him of abuse.
Former inspector of constabulary Zoe Billingham told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It beggars belief that 21 women came forward to the Met with presumably very similar allegations about a wealthy man in a position of extreme power and authority and yet nothing happened, again.
“There should have been a full investigation. And this raises questions. Were the police building a proper file for the prosecution in the first place?”
She added: “There is a broader question here, that’s the question of culture. At that time, and perhaps even now, were woman coming forward with these types of allegations being taken seriously? Were they being listened to or were they being fobbed off?”
Read more: Mohamed al Fayed: Timeline of sex abuse claims
Met Commander Stephen Clayman thanked the women who have come forward.
“We recognise the significance of the allegations and it is right that a detailed and thorough review takes place on previous allegations,” he said.
“And while we know that it isn’t possible to bring criminal proceedings against someone who has died, our priority is to give any potential victim-survivors a voice and ensure they receive the right care and support.
“We continue to explore a number of new lines of inquiry, thoroughly reviewing any new information and assessing.”
The update came after former Fulham Women captain Ronnie Gibbons alleged she was twice sexually assaulted by Al Fayed.