Harrods Sets Aside More Than £60-M for Abuse Compensation

Harrods has set aside more than £60 million to compensate alleged victims of historical abuse.

The compensation scheme will award each eligible claimant general damages of £200,000. (Photo: Harrods Facebook)

More than 100 employees of the luxury department store are expected to claim up to £385,000 each through the redress scheme, which remains open until March 2026, Marc Ashdown and Imogen James reported for BBC News.

The scheme, launched in March, offers compensation to victims who claim they were abused by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed, who died in 2023.

Many women have accused Al Fayed, who owned the London-based department store between 1985 and 2010, of rape and sexual assault. The Metropolitan Police said that 146 people have come forward to report crimes as part of its investigation into Al Fayed.

Harrods has allocated £57 million for compensation payments, with an additional £5.3 million reserved for legal and administrative costs, bringing the total to £62.3 million.

Managing Director Michael Ward said that “more than 100 survivors” have joined the redress process since it opened.

“Compensation awards and interim payments began being issued to eligible survivors at the end of April 2025, and the scheme will remain open until March 31, 2026,” Ward said.

The compensation scheme will award each eligible claimant general damages of £200,000.

They could receive up to £385,000 in compensation, plus treatment costs, if they agree to be assessed by a consultant psychiatrist, or up to £150,000 without a medical assessment, Harrods said in March.