The Metropolitan Police were made aware of sexual assault allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed a decade earlier than previously acknowledged. In 1995, Samantha Ramsay, then 17 years old, reported Al Fayed to the police after he groped her at Harrods. Until now, the Met had stated that its first report related to the case was from 2005. The family of Samantha asserts that her claims were dismissed by the police, suggesting that prompt action could have prevented further abuse of other women.

According to the Met, current records do not show any documentation of Samantha’s report due to the fact that many records were maintained on paper at that time and may not have been digitized. Commander Stephen Clayman addressed the issue by acknowledging past failures in handling such cases and expressed a commitment to improving trust in their operations.

Samantha’s mother Wendy and sister Emma shared that police informed them in 1995 about multiple complaints against Al Fayed. The newly revealed details raise concerns about whether the Met has fully recognized and acted upon all reports received from victims over the years. They remembered Samantha as a vibrant individual who loved life. Following her move to London to fulfill her dream of working at Harrods, her family believes that the incident profoundly affected her future.

Shortly after starting work in Harrods' toy department, Al Fayed began inviting Samantha to his office. Dissatisfied with how police handled her complaint, she chose to share her experience with a publication in 1998, detailing how Al Fayed offered her money and jobs before assaulting her. She recounted feeling terrified during the incident and recalled being dismissed by a supervisor when she reported it.

Afterward, when she went to report the incident to the police at Marylebone station, she was told it was her word against his and that he held significant power. Despite receiving assurances that her complaint would be noted alongside others against Al Fayed, she felt let down by law enforcement.

Following this experience, Samantha struggled with mental health issues for years until her tragic death in a car accident in 2007 at age 28. Her family believes this incident permanently altered her life trajectory. They are advocating for a public inquiry into Al Fayed’s actions and are exploring legal options with a law firm.

The Metropolitan Police continue to investigate allegations related to Al Fayed and have recently identified reports from numerous women since 2005. They encourage any additional victims to come forward and engage with specially trained detectives for support and formal reporting.