Debarment investigations into Grenfell product suppliers paused

The Metropolitan Police Service launched a criminal investigation procedure following the Grenfell Tower tragedy on 14 June 2017, with a dedicated team of 180 officers and staff working to identify any offences and those responsible.  The Government fully supports the Metropolitan Police Service in its investigation.

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Panel’s final report at the conclusion of Phase 2 of the process laid bare an appalling catalogue of failures leading up to the fire, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer has made clear that there must be full accountability (including through the criminal justice process).   

The Metropolitan Police Service and the Crown Prosecution Service informed the Cabinet Office that continuing the debarment investigations could unintentionally prejudice the criminal investigation and any future criminal proceedings.  

To ensure the Metropolitan Police Service’s criminal investigation and any future proceedings remain the priority, the Cabinet Office has paused its separate, non-criminal debarment investigations at the request of the Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police Service. This decision has been made to safeguard the integrity of the Metropolitan Police Service’s criminal investigation.

Maintaining integrity   

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, has informed Parliament of the need to maintain the integrity of criminal proceedings in the pursuit of justice for the Grenfell community.

The Deputy Prime Minister is writing to the bereaved, survivors and residents in the immediate community to share this decision and reaffirm the Government’s commitment to holding organisations to account.

Investigations into the seven organisations, under new powers provided by the Procurement Act 2023, were announced immediately after that Act of Parliament came into force in February.

The Act allows the Government to investigate suppliers and, if certain grounds are met, add them to a published debarment list. Public sector organisations covered by the Act must have regard to this list when carrying out new procurements that are covered by the Act’s remit and can rely on this list to exclude a supplier where appropriate.

Stronger action

When a supplier is added to the debarment list on a mandatory ground, they must be excluded from all procurement activity within scope of the Act, except in very limited circumstances.

If an organisation is convicted of a criminal offence that’s a mandatory exclusion ground under the Act, this would potentially enable the Government to take stronger action.