Harrods’ closure of compensation scheme for survivors of alleged sexual abuse called ‘neither fair nor just’

Scheme for accusers of store’s former owner Mohamed Al Fayed to close before end of retailer’s internal investigation Harrods has been accused of being “neither fair nor just” over its decision to close a compensation scheme for survivors of alleged sexual abuse by the luxury department store’s former owner Mohamed Al Fayed. Kingsley Hayes, partner at KP Law, which is representing nearly 280 survivors, questioned why the scheme was being closed on Tuesday 31 March, before Harrods had completed an internal investigation into what happened and who knew about it. “We are concerned that the decision appears to be driven by financial considerations rather than what is fair and appropriate for survivors,” the law firm said in a statement. Harrods set up a compensation scheme in March last year which it said at the time would only run until 31 March this year. The scheme was set up after dozens of women came forward with allegations of abuse by the late entrepreneur going back as far as 1977 after the broadcast last year of the BBC documentary Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods. Hayes said the scheme provided an alternative resolution for survivors who did not wish to pursue liti