Grenfell families face lengthy wait for justice

Families of Grenfell Tower disaster victims may face years of waiting for prosecutions, despite today’s significant report highlighting the failures that led to the tragedy.

The Metropolitan Police are examining potential offences, including corporate and gross negligence manslaughter, along with health and safety breaches. However, they estimate it could take at least 18 months to thoroughly review the findings of inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick. This review will not determine criminal liability.

Only after this extensive analysis will Scotland Yard seek authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service for any charges. Given the complexity of the disaster and its various aspects, it is unlikely that any prosecution will reach a UK criminal court before 2027—a decade after the fire.

Grenfell Inquiry: Residents want report to expose “crooks and killers” responsible for fire safety failures, as well as the government “called out for deregulation” and “failing to act” on previous warnings.
The focus now is for Met Police to “make arrests”, as @RagsMartel… pic.twitter.com/eKaPYLR9RL

— ITV London (@itvlondon) September 2, 2024

Witnesses who testified at the inquiry are protected from prosecution based on their testimonies, following a ruling made when they threatened to remain silent.

Families fear that the lengthy inquiry process will allow those responsible to escape justice. They believe the findings will test whether the system can hold individuals accountable and bring about the necessary changes to prevent another disaster like Grenfell.

Lead counsel Richard Millett KC previously described a ‘spider’s web of blame’ as organisations shifted responsibility for the fire, highlighting a ‘merry-go-round of buck-passing’ during evidential hearings.

On June 14, 2017, a faulty fridge sparked a fire that quickly engulfed the 24-storey tower block in Kensington, west London, killing 72 people. This disaster, the worst residential fire since the Blitz, led to widespread protests about building standards, following residents’ safety concerns after the tower’s refurbishment.

The first report, published in 2019, outlined numerous failures, including the rapid spread of flames due to combustible cladding, which acted as a fuel source. The report also noted a lack of sub-division measures within the building that could have contained the fire.

Sir Martin indicated that lives were likely lost because emergency crews and 999 operators spent nearly an hour advising residents to stay in their flats before realising the fire was uncontrollable.

Today’s report is expected to highlight issues with testing and certification of construction materials, regulatory adequacy, and the design of the 2016 refurbishment, which used aluminium composite material panels with a polyethylene core. It will also address community warnings and the authorities’ responses, examining whether residents’ concerns were ignored and if adequate support was provided in the aftermath.

The Metropolitan Police have cautioned that prosecutions will not follow immediately after the report’s release. Their investigation involves 180 officers and has identified around 20 companies and 60 individuals as potential suspects. They have interviewed dozens of suspects under caution after spending over a year collecting evidence from Grenfell Tower.

The Justice for Grenfell group stressed the importance of public inquiries in uncovering the truth and preventing future disasters, while questioning if they truly deliver justice. They see the final report as a critical test of accountability and change.

The community demands the government accept and implement all recommendations, prioritising those that prevent further losses. Hisam Choucair, who lost six family members in the fire, expressed frustration over the delays, feeling it has given those responsible a ‘get out of jail card’ and diminished the prospects of a trial.

Data revealed that two companies criticised in the inquiry have received nearly £270 million in public contracts over the past five years. Research by Tussell showed these companies include Saint-Gobain, the maker of the combustible Celotex insulation used in the tower, and Rydon, the main contractor for the refurbishment.

Celotex’s Rs5000 insulation was a key component in the Grenfell Tower cladding system, and its TB4000 insulation was used in window surrounds during the refurbishment. Rydon contended that it should not be blamed for others’ dishonest use of unsafe products in the tower.