we a bit of an unfair question. we obviously _ a bit of an unfair question. , obviously know the reasons and no disrespect at all to the question but i will do what the first part of the question and natasha you can say whatever you would like to say. in terms of it is clear that the police were involved. that is the answer to your question. the police clearly were involved.

the extent of their involvement, i am the extent of their involvement, lam not the extent of their involvement, i am not privy to. we know that a complaint was made by, a young woman of 15 years old, against, i think he was 78 or 80 at the time, so we are aware that the police was involved. one of the earlier questions was about people speaking up and the timing of them speaking up. i would commend that part of the documentary to you. she cried her eyes out because she had got the day wrong. so, the answer to your question is, we are aware that the police were involved. it is not any

kind ofjudgment on the police. we were obviously aware that the police were involved in this. the answer to your question is i was speaking in terms of the serialised sexual abuse. when i was talking about other people, they enabled the system to take place.

where is the case in terms of claims — where is the case in terms of claims already— where is the case in terms of claims already been - where is the case in terms of claims already been lodged. i claims already been lodged. what — claims already been lodged. what stage _ claims already been lodged. what stage are _ claims already been lodged. what stage are you - claims already been lodged. what stage are you at, - claims already been lodged. what stage are you at, andl claims already been lodged. . what stage are you at, and why not a _ what stage are you at, and why not a class—action _ what stage are you at, and why not a class—action suit, - what stage are you at, and why not a class—action suit, why - not a class—action suit, why individual_ not a class—action suit, why individual claims? - not a class—action suit, why individual claims? you - individual claims? you mentioned the - individual claims? you mentioned the nda, l individual claims? you . mentioned the nda, can individual claims? you - mentioned the nda, can you explain — mentioned the nda, can you explain a _ mentioned the nda, can you explain a little _ mentioned the nda, can you explain a little bit _ mentioned the nda, can you explain a little bit more - mentioned the nda, can you | explain a little bit more about your— explain a little bit more about your reasoning _ explain a little bit more about your reasoning as _ explain a little bit more about your reasoning as to - explain a little bit more about your reasoning as to why- explain a little bit more about your reasoning as to why you i your reasoning as to why you feel— your reasoning as to why you feel you _ your reasoning as to why you feel you can— your reasoning as to why you feel you can fight _ your reasoning as to why you feel you can fight those - your reasoning as to why you feel you can fight those in i feel you can fight those in court? _ feel you can fight those in court? �* . , , feel you can fight those in court? �* ., , _ ., ., court? i'm happy to dealwith art of court? i'm happy to dealwith part of that — court? i'm happy to dealwith part of that question. - court? i'm happy to dealwith part of that question. i - court? i'm happy to dealwith part of that question. i shalll part of that question. i shall deal with — part of that question. i shall deal with where _ part of that question. i shall deal with where we - part of that question. i shall deal with where we are - part of that question. i shall deal with where we are in i part of that question. i shall - deal with where we are in terms of the _ deal with where we are in terms of the legal action. claims have — of the legal action. claims have not— of the legal action. claims have not yet been issued. this abuse — have not yet been issued. this abuse that was suffered by women _ abuse that was suffered by women was worldwide, so there are lots— women was worldwide, so there are lots of— women was worldwide, so there are lots of different potential elements to this, potential jurisdictional elements that need — jurisdictional elements that need to— jurisdictional elements that need to be considered, different individuals that also need — different individuals that also need to— different individuals that also need to be considered. it is not — need to be considered. it is

notiust_ need to be considered. it is notiust a _ need to be considered. it is notjust a case need to be considered. it is not just a case that we just go off. not just a case that we just go off while _ not just a case that we just go off. while we accept that we know — off. while we accept that we know we _ off. while we accept that we know we have an obligation to act diligently and promptly, we are still— act diligently and promptly, we are still very much investigating, liaising with people _ investigating, liaising with people like law experts in the us, because we represent a number— us, because we represent a number of us survivors. no, we have _ number of us survivors. no, we have not— number of us survivors. no, we have not issued, but we are very— have not issued, but we are very nruch— have not issued, but we are very much getting our action together. very much getting our action touether. very much getting our action together-— very much getting our action touether. ., together. let me deal with the two other— together. let me deal with the two other matters _ together. let me deal with the two other matters you've - two other matters you've raised. the first is why new class action. i have extensive experience in class actions. very much as in the us as in the uk, there are technical issues regarding the similarity of class, so that is a legal answer. actually, the real

answer. actually, the real answer is that every single person, every single survivor suffered and suffers different harm here. and different long—term effects. we are not going to, as a team, allow other considerations which may be financial to have people's lives and responsibility and their rights compromised by the fact, that it is easier to deal with the class—action in order to get some money out at the end. that is not why we are here. it is not our aim, it is not our purpose. i am very strong about this. everyone who

comes to us will be treated as an individual, and i hope those here today can attest to that. can i then deal with the limitation points? if the law is, as you will be aware, knowing where you come from obviously the law society gazette, you will be aware that the limitation act in the uk, and i won't speak across the world, about that, but i'm sure there are some respectable arguments i am about to say here that will be employed by others, but if it is the case that a corporate can put into effect a system which causes individuals to suffer serious sexual abuse, threaten them

with cover—up, threatening not to say anything, to keep quiet, not to tell anybody, if that same corporate then seeks to bring the argument to a judge that their claims should be disapplied by reason of passage of time, then that is not a society in which i want to live. the limitation periods are therefore good, practical legal reasons, but they can also be disapplied for good legal humanitarian reasons. and it is really important when we deal and think about limitation here, and i would challenge, i hold out the challenge here to harrods, if harrods are going to say to us that these claims

should be barred on the basis of limitation, then they are effectively adopting the argument that threats will always win the day. we will not accept that argument and we're pretty confident the won't either. ., .., pretty confident the won't either. ., . ., pretty confident the won't either. ., _, g , pretty confident the won't either. ., , . either. no comment, 0k? just a few points _ either. no comment, 0k? just a few points to — either. no comment, 0k? just a few points to piggyback - either. no comment, 0k? just a few points to piggyback on - either. no comment, 0k? just a few points to piggyback on what| few points to piggyback on what danger— few points to piggyback on what danger said. few points to piggyback on what dangersaid. in few points to piggyback on what danger said. in the united states— danger said. in the united states are law firm does not generally participate in class actions. _ generally participate in class actions, howeverwe generally participate in class actions, however we represent large _ actions, however we represent large groups of victims. for example. _ large groups of victims. for example, we represented 72 victims — example, we represented 72 victims who were victims of sexual— victims who were victims of sexual abuse, these were young women — sexual abuse, these were young women at — sexual abuse, these were young women at the university of southern california, victims of

sexual— southern california, victims of sexual abuse by the gynaecologist who provided services to them when they were students, — services to them when they were students, and some faculty, at the university of southern california. 72 victims. we have represented many groups of women _ represented many groups of women who were victims. some larger. — women who were victims. some larger, some smaller groups. without— larger, some smaller groups. without a _ larger, some smaller groups. without a class action. i won't io without a class action. i won't go into— without a class action. i won't go into all— without a class action. i won't go into all of the different cases. _ go into all of the different cases, but if somebody wants to know _ cases, but if somebody wants to know later — cases, but if somebody wants to know later i will be happy to provide _ know later i will be happy to provide the answers. because we do believe — provide the answers. because we do believe in individual attention, individual assessment of a client because my claim _ assessment of a client because my claim. we don't think one size _ my claim. we don't think one size fits — my claim. we don't think one size fits all. everybody has had — size fits all. everybody has had a _ size fits all. everybody has had a different situation in somewhere nice where they have been _ somewhere nice where they have been victimised and different damages. one other thing been victimised and different damages. one otherthing i been victimised and different damages. one other thing i want to stay— damages. one other thing i want to stay about the statute of

limitations, which is the arbitrary time period set by law arbitrary time period set by taw lry— arbitrary time period set by law by different legislative bodies in different countries, generally. in the past it definitely has favoured the wrongdoer, not the victim. i have — wrongdoer, not the victim. i have met _ wrongdoer, not the victim. i have met with advocates from other — have met with advocates from other countries in europe, i will— other countries in europe, i williust_ other countries in europe, i willjust put it that way. who are seeking to change, eliminate, modify the statute of limitations elsewhere. you have — of limitations elsewhere. you have a — of limitations elsewhere. you have a more favourable statute of limitations in the uk than we have _ of limitations in the uk than we have in the united states, but as— we have in the united states, but as you _ we have in the united states, but as you will see, some of my clients — but as you will see, some of my clients and _ but as you will see, some of my clients and myself, the clients of bill— clients and myself, the clients of bill cosby in my netflix documentary, cs testifying before _ documentary, cs testifying before the legislature in california to eliminate or

change _ california to eliminate or change the restrictions in the statute — change the restrictions in the statute of limitations. all this — statute of limitations. all this is— statute of limitations. all this is about empowering victims _ this is about empowering victims to be able to not be barred _ victims to be able to not be barred from the courthouse, not to have — barred from the courthouse, not to have the _ barred from the courthouse, not to have the courthouse door slammed in their face because of this— slammed in their face because of this arbitrary law called statute _ of this arbitrary law called statute of limitations, which most — statute of limitations, which most of _ statute of limitations, which most of them never knew about. they— most of them never knew about. they didn't — most of them never knew about. they didn't know that there was a time — they didn't know that there was a time period after which they would — a time period after which they would he _ a time period after which they would be barred. you can do that— would be barred. you can do that more _ would be barred. you can do that more easily in the uk and iwill_ that more easily in the uk and twill he — that more easily in the uk and i will be mentioning the uk at other— i will be mentioning the uk at other legislative hearings on this matter in the us, although i would — this matter in the us, although i would add that the damages are significantly less, even though— are significantly less, even though you have more time to bring — though you have more time to bring them, than you would be able _

bring them, than you would be able to— bring them, than you would be able to win with your courage than — able to win with your courage than you _ able to win with your courage than you would be able to win in the — than you would be able to win in the united states. the last point — in the united states. the last point about large corporations, in the — point about large corporations, in the united states we have something called rico, which sean— something called rico, which sean combs is charged with. the united _ sean combs is charged with. the united states is recognising the role _ united states is recognising the role of large businesses which — the role of large businesses which are used to enable a predator— which are used to enable a predator to victimise their victims _ predator to victimise their victims. he generally is not acting — victims. he generally is not acting alone, he is getting a lot of— acting alone, he is getting a lot of support from others. finally, _ lot of support from others. finally, i— lot of support from others. finally, ijust want to say, if we had _ finally, ijust want to say, if we had more women as

chairpersons of large corporations and less segregation of women forced to do, segregation of women forced to do. lower— segregation of women forced to do, lowerjobs, many of which are well— do, lowerjobs, many of which are well below their capacity to do— are well below their capacity to do them and their education and background, their experience and their dreams, if we had — experience and their dreams, if we had less segregation by gender— we had less segregation by gender in the workplace to lower—leveljobs for women because _ lower—leveljobs for women because women are considered of less value — because women are considered of less value because they are women, _ less value because they are women, if we had more integrated workplace, if we had by gender and race and age ethnic— by gender and race and age ethnic origin and so forth, and of course _ ethnic origin and so forth, and of course sexual orientation, we would _ of course sexual orientation, we would have a better workplace. we would have a more productive — workplace. we would have a more productive workplace and would be in _ productive workplace and would be in the — productive workplace and would be in the corporation interest

to do— be in the corporation interest to do that. again, not enough women — to do that. again, not enough women either in the uk or in the united states who are at the united states who are at the top _ the united states who are at the top level, let's say fortune _ the top level, let's say fortune 500 companies, other large _ fortune 500 companies, other large corporations, that has to change — large corporations, that has to change and maybe we would have let sexual — change and maybe we would have let sexual abuse by the people in power — let sexual abuse by the people in power if the people in power were _ in power if the people in power were women. i would like us to find out — were women. i would like us to find out if— were women. i would like us to find out if i'm right. there are — find out if i'm right. there are not— find out if i'm right. there are not enough women at the top levels _ are not enough women at the top levels of— are not enough women at the top levels of corporations. that's all t — levels of corporations. that's all t have _ levels of corporations. that's all i have to say about that. are — all i have to say about that. are any— all i have to say about that. are any of— all i have to say about that. are any of the executive staff from — are any of the executive staff from during _ are any of the executive staff from during mohamed - are any of the executive staff from during mohamed al- are any of the executive staff. from during mohamed al fayed still in — from during mohamed al fayed still in place _ from during mohamed al fayed still in place at _ from during mohamed al fayed still in place at harrods - from during mohamed al fayed still in place at harrods and - still in place at harrods and do you _ still in place at harrods and do you envisage _ still in place at harrods and do you envisage any - still in place at harrods and. do you envisage any criminal action— do you envisage any criminal action against _ do you envisage any criminal action against those - do you envisage any criminal action against those who - do you envisage any criminal. action against those who were involved — action against those who were involved in— action against those who were involved in covering _ action against those who were involved in covering up, - action against those who were involved in covering up, but. involved in covering up, but not — involved in covering up, but not any— involved in covering up, but not any actual— involved in covering up, but not any actual allegations. i involved in covering up, butj not any actual allegations. i will not any actual allegations. will ask maria to deal with

that. with regards criminal activity, this is not for us to say, i'm afraid. we do not have that capacity to tell you, so therefore we won't. in that capacity to tell you, so therefore we won't. in terms of therefore we won't. in terms of the first aspect, _ therefore we won't. in terms of the first aspect, we _ therefore we won't. in terms of the first aspect, we are - therefore we won't. in terms of the first aspect, we are not - the first aspect, we are not aware _ the first aspect, we are not aware of— the first aspect, we are not aware of any people that may still be — aware of any people that may still be in _ aware of any people that may still be in place at harrods, but — still be in place at harrods, but obviously this is a case that— but obviously this is a case that is— but obviously this is a case that is rapidly evolving and expanding every single day. even — expanding every single day. even from yesterday, the amount of e-mails — even from yesterday, the amount of e—mails that we have received _ of e—mails that we have received of people offering to provide — received of people offering to provide evidence to us to support— provide evidence to us to support the women who have been brave _ support the women who have been brave enough to speak out have been _ brave enough to speak out have been overwhelming. it is an evolving _ been overwhelming. it is an evolving process.— been overwhelming. it is an evolving process. natasha, i was very _ evolving process. natasha, i was very struck _ evolving process. natasha, i was very struck by _ evolving process. natasha, i was very struck by your - evolving process. natasha, i. was very struck by your bravery and all— was very struck by your bravery and all the _ was very struck by your bravery and all the women _ was very struck by your bravery and all the women here. - was very struck by your bravery and all the women here. whati was very struck by your bravery| and all the women here. what i wanted — and all the women here. what i wanted to— and all the women here. what i wanted to ask, _ and all the women here. what i wanted to ask, you _ and all the women here. what i wanted to ask, you set - and all the women here. what i wanted to ask, you set the - and all the women here. what ij wanted to ask, you set the gino -- you —

wanted to ask, you set the gino -- you are _ wanted to ask, you set the gino -- you are no _ wanted to ask, you set the gino —— you are no longer— wanted to ask, you set the gino —— you are no longer afraid. - —— you are no longer afraid. how— —— you are no longer afraid. how did _ —— you are no longer afraid. how did you _ —— you are no longer afraid. how did you get _ —— you are no longer afraid. how did you get to - —— you are no longer afraid. how did you get to that - —— you are no longer afraid. i how did you get to that point?