Al Fayed abuse lawyers say Metropolitan Police data breach likely to incur significant fine and repeat call for public inquiry

It has been reported that the Met shared 143 email addresses of survivors of Al Fayed's abuse in an email update about its ongoing investigation, Operation Cornpoppy. 

Law firm Leigh Day represents more than 50 women who report sexual abuse by Al Fayed and those closely associated with him. Many of their experiences are linked to Al Fayed's ownership of the Harrods store in Knightsbridge. 

Clients have voiced their dismay at this latest failure by the Met operations investigating the abuse scandal. Some of those affected are among those who complained to the police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) about the Met's handling of their original reports of abuse by Al Fayed. 

It is believed that since Operation Cornpoppy was launched in November 2024, only seven people have been interviewed by Met officers. 

After it was revealed this week that a data breach had occurred and been reported to the Information Commissioner, Leigh Day issued the following statements. 

Data breach team partner Sean Humber said: 

“This is a serious breach of data protection law, given the sensitivity of the information and the numbers affected.  It is likely that the Met Police will now be facing a significant fine from the ICO.  Separately, those affected are likely to have strong claims for compensation for the further anxiety and distress caused by the incident.” 

Human rights team partner Emma Jones, who represents abuse survivors who are bringing claims against the Al Fayed estate, said: 

"Yet again our clients have had to face another grave disappointment in relation to the Metropolitan Police's handling of the investigation into the serious abuse they experienced in their connection with Mohamed Al Fayed. 

"Our clients believe this latest failure evidences the lack of care and respect being accorded to our clients during Operation Cornpoppy. There is an absolute necessity for a public inquiry into the whole scandal, including the Met police's failure to investigate abuse allegations when they were first reported."