The Metropolitan Police has submitted all files in its Grenfell Tower investigation to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for charging decisions.
The 20 files relate to 20 companies and organisations and 54 individuals. They ask the CPS to consider charges including corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, health and safety offences, fraud and fraud-related offences, and misconduct in public office.
The CPS has committed to making the charging decisions before the 10th anniversary of the fire in June 2027. The fire killed 72 people.
Kevin Southworth, deputy assistant commissioner, said: “This is a milestone moment in the police investigation into this devastating tragedy which took the lives of 72 people.”
He added: “We appreciate, of course, it has taken nine years to get to this point. As we have said before, this is one of the most complex investigations ever undertaken by any UK law enforcement agency – the scale is truly enormous.
“While we know this has had a significant impact on those waiting for answers, it has necessarily taken this long to ensure our investigation is meticulous and presents the very best possible evidence to the CPS for charging decisions.”
Police examined the role of more than 15,000 individuals and 700 organisations involved with Grenfell Tower. This led to 54 people and 20 organisations being identified as suspects for the offences referred to the CPS.
The submission also includes 14 overarching evidence files. The Met’s summary reports alone run to more than four million words over 12,600 pages, referencing more than 45,000 documents, images, and exhibits.
Investigators gathered 165 million electronic files and took 14,700 statements. They also cross-referenced the 1,700-page final report of the public inquiry against the police investigation.
Police held Grenfell Tower as a crime scene for 14 months. A recovery operation to find and identify those who died included a forensic fingertip search of about 15 tonnes of debris on each floor.
More than 27,000 exhibits, including cladding, insulation, doors, and windows, remain in a secure warehouse.
The Met said it is working with criminal justice partners on the next stages to ensure the Grenfell families and survivors are supported. It has also launched a Grenfell Tower investigation website to keep those affected updated.
Abena Oppong-Asare MP, chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) committee said: “The bereaved, the families and survivors of the Grenfell tragedy have suffered an agonising and unacceptable nine-year wait for justice. I hope that the Crown Prosecution Service will now deliver the accountability, transparency, and justice which the victims of Grenfell deserve. I urge the government to do all they can to help avoid any further delays and, outside of any criminal proceedings, ensure that building safety is a top priority.”
Image credit: Alex Danila/Shutterstock
Read next: Abri wins £106k to study heat network upgrades
Are you a social housing professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
