The Metropolitan Police were alerted to allegations of sexual assault involving Mohamed Al Fayed ten years earlier than previously acknowledged, according to BBC reports. In 1995, Samantha Ramsay, who has since passed away, was just 17 when she reported Al Fayed to the police after he groped her at Harrods. Until recently, the Met had stated that the first report they received was in 2005.

Samantha’s family claims that her allegations were dismissed by the police and believes that if action had been taken sooner, many women could have avoided similar abuse. The Met has stated that there is no record of Samantha’s report in their current systems but acknowledged that in 1995, some reports were documented on paper and may not have been transferred to digital records.

Cdr Stephen Clayman from the Met expressed regret over past actions and acknowledged that public trust has been impacted by their handling of such cases. For the first time, Samantha’s mother Wendy and sister Emma shared that police informed them in 1995 of multiple complaints against Al Fayed.

This revelation raises concerns about whether the Met fully recognized all reports from victims and admitted its failures to investigate them adequately. Wendy described Samantha as vibrant and always eager to help others. She moved to London in 1995 with aspirations of working at Harrods, but her family believes her experience there drastically altered her future.

After starting her job in the toy department at Harrods, Al Fayed began inviting her to his office. Unhappy with the police response, Samantha recounted her experience in a 1998 interview with News of the World. Her account parallels many recent allegations highlighted in a BBC documentary about Al Fayed.

In her statement, she described receiving money from Al Fayed and being coerced into inappropriate situations, culminating in sexual assault. When she reported this to her supervisor, his reaction suggested a troubling familiarity with such incidents.

Samantha later approached Marylebone police station but was told it was her word against his due to his influence. She relayed that officers mentioned having multiple complaints against Al Fayed and noted they had extensive files on him.

Despite following up through a contact in Hampshire, which led to further police involvement, Samantha’s family never received updates on the case from the Met. They believe that had their concerns been taken seriously, many women might have been spared similar experiences.

Since a recent documentary aired, the Met claims to have identified reports from 21 women accusing Al Fayed between 2005 and his death in 2023. However, it was revealed that only two cases were forwarded to the Crown Prosecution Service for review during his lifetime.

Wendy and Emma believe the lack of support at such a young age significantly impacted Samantha’s mental well-being. Following her return home from London, she struggled with instability for years until her tragic death in a car accident at age 28. The family suspects it might have been a suicide attempt due to unresolved trauma stemming from her assault.

They are advocating for a public inquiry into Al Fayed’s abuse and are exploring legal options through a law firm while voicing their desire for justice on behalf of Samantha’s memory.