UK anti-slavery commissioner warns new bill could deny Fayed accusers trafficking victim status
Eleanor Lyons says credibility tests in the immigration and asylum bill are fundamentally unfair and could harm survivors of sexual violence, including women allegedly abused by Mohamed Al Fayed.
At a glance
- The UK's anti-slavery commissioner says credibility tests in the immigration and asylum bill are fundamentally unfair to trafficking survivors.
- The tests require officials to view delayed claims, inconsistencies, or similarities to others' accounts as damaging to credibility.
- Women allegedly abused by Mohamed Al Fayed fear the measures will undermine investigations into his trafficking network.
The UK's independent anti-slavery commissioner, Eleanor Lyons, has warned that survivors of sexual violence could be wrongly denied recognition as victims of human trafficking under credibility tests in the government's immigration and asylum bill. She said the measures are fundamentally unfair and could deny support to many victims, including women allegedly abused by Mohamed Al Fayed.
Under the legislation, Home Office officials must treat any delay in claiming modern slavery or human trafficking as damaging to credibility. Inaccuracies, inconsistencies, omissions, and striking similarities to another person's claim must also be viewed as reasons for disbelief.
Lyons said the tests would harm survivors of sexual violence, who often suffer memory loss from trauma and may be reluctant to come forward for fear of reprisals. She said the rules tell victims that if they do not report in a timely fashion, have inconsistencies, or share similar exploitation stories, the Home Office must question their credibility. For Al Fayed accusers, she said this was 'particularly concerning' because much time has passed, many were exploited similarly, and trauma may prevent exact recall of times and places.
Several women who allege Fayed sexually abused them said they feared the measures would undermine investigations into what they describe as his international trafficking network. Holly Johnson, who says she was trafficked and sexually abused while working at Harrods and Fayed's Park Lane offices, said the tests would re-victimise survivors. 'Fayed had a specific strategy for trafficking and assaulting women, and many of our stories are really similar,' she said. 'To say someone shouldn't be believed because their situation is too similar to another victim of that same abuser is absurd.'
The survivor collective No One Above said many women delayed reporting until after Fayed's death in 2023 and Harrods' 2024 announcement that it would not enforce non-disclosure agreements. Elizabeth, an NOA member recognised as a trafficking victim by the Home Office, said: 'It took that for me to finally believe that I couldn't have somebody take my house away for speaking out.' Pelham Spong, who says she was trafficked in Paris on Fayed's orders in 2008 before being sent to London to be sexually assaulted by him, said she did not go to the Metropolitan police until 2017 because she feared her life 'was going to be ruined.' She said speaking out as a 23-year-old with no money or resources against a billionaire was 'unfathomable' and that 'he was so powerful.' Her case is being investigated by French police.
The government says the tests aim to close opportunities to misuse the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), which identifies potential victims of modern slavery and human trafficking, and to speed up the removal and deportation of illegal migrants.
Eleanora Fais, anti-trafficking monitoring group coordinator at Anti-Slavery International, said: 'If your primary aim is to introduce legislation that is focused on immigration enforcement, safeguarding will come in second place.' She said the NRM was meant to help survivors disclose, be referred to support, and cooperate with police if they wished. Hilary Agg, head of policy and research at the charity Unseen, said the measures would allow trafficking to thrive because fewer victims would be identified and able to help police pursue perpetrators. She added the tests would harm immigrants and the majority of trafficking victims, who are British nationals.
A Home Office spokesperson said modern slavery is a 'barbaric crime' and the government is committed to identifying victims and ensuring they get support. They said the bill would strengthen protections and crack down on exploitation while reducing improper use of the system, and that the credibility considerations are 'well-balanced' with safeguards.
A Harrods spokesperson said it supported all survivors in their pursuit of justice and continued to work closely with the Metropolitan police. A Ritz Paris spokesperson said it was 'deeply concerned' by the allegations, took them 'with the utmost seriousness,' and expressed 'deepest sympathy' to the women who came forward. The Fayed estate has been approached for comment.
Source: The Guardian World.
Questions and answers
- What are the credibility tests in the UK immigration and asylum bill?
- Under the bill, Home Office officials must treat delays in claiming modern slavery or human trafficking as damaging to credibility. Inaccuracies, inconsistencies, omissions, and striking similarities to other claims are also reasons for disbelief.
- Why are Fayed accusers concerned about the new UK law?
- The anti-slavery commissioner says survivors of sexual violence often suffer trauma-related memory loss and may delay reporting. Many Fayed accusers reported after his death in 2023 and Harrods' 2024 NDA announcement, and their accounts are similar.
- What does the UK government say about the credibility tests?
- A Home Office spokesperson says the bill will strengthen protections and crack down on exploitation, and that the credibility considerations are well-balanced with safeguards.
