Met submits all Grenfell files to 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 in addition to misconduct in public office.

The CPS has committed to making the charging decisions before the Tenth Anniversary of the fire.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Kevin Southworth said: “This is a milestone moment in the police investigation into this devastating tragedy, which took the lives of 72 people. Our dedicated team of 220 investigators has worked incredibly hard to honour our commitment to the bereaved, the survivors, residents and all those affected by the fire to meet this timescale.”

Southworth continued: “We appreciate, of course, that it has taken nine years to arrive at this point. As we’ve previously mentioned, this is one of the most complex investigations ever undertaken by any UK law enforcement agency. The scale of it all is truly enormous.”

Further, Southworth noted: “While we know this process has exerted a significant impact on those waiting for answers, it has necessarily taken this long to ensure that our investigation is meticulous and presents the very best possible evidence to the CPS for charging decisions.”

Scale of the investigation

The police investigation has been immense. The role of more than 15,000 individuals and 700 organisations involved in Grenfell Tower has been examined. Careful gathering and analysis of the evidence has then led to 54 people and 20 organisations being identified as suspects for the criminal offences referred to the CPS.

In addition to the 20 files, the submission to the CPS also includes 14 overarching evidence files. The word count of the Met’s summary reports alone to the CPS exceeds four million over 12,600 pages, referencing more than 45,000 documents, images and exhibits.

The investigation team has been in close liaison with the CPS throughout the investigation to obtain guidance and advice in order to submit the best possible evidence to enable the CPS to reach charging decisions. This will continue.

The police response to the fire began with an operation to find, recover and identify all those who died. Every single flat and communal area was thoroughly and meticulously searched. This included a full forensic fingertip search, with police officers and forensic experts examining approximately 15 tonnes of debris on each floor.

Grenfell Tower was held by the police as a crime scene for 14 months. Over the course of the police investigation, 165 million electronic files have been gathered to meticulously search for evidence.

Obtaining all of the evidence

Investigators also examined in detail the work of the Public Inquiry Panel, including the 1,700 pages of the final report, in order to cross-reference against the police investigation and ensure that every possible piece of evidence had been obtained.

A total of 14,700 statements have been taken. More than 27,000 exhibits (including cladding, insulation, doors, windows and other parts of the building, all the way through to screws, nut and bolts) remain stored in a secure warehouse.

While in no way pre-empting the CPS’ decisions, the Metropolitan Police Service is working with criminal justice partners on the next stages to ensure the Grenfell families and survivors are supported as well as possible.

*The Metropolitan Police Service has launched a Grenfell Tower investigation website to keep all those affected updated. Visit www.met.police.uk/grenfell-tower-investigation

Response from Government

Angela Rayner (Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government) explained: “First and foremost, my thoughts are with the bereaved families, survivors and members of the immediate Grenfell community. 72 innocent lives were lost in the Grenfell Tower tragedy of June 2017. Those people most affected have been waiting more than nine years for this next step towards justice. I pay tribute to the dignity, persistence and courage of the Grenfell community and their ongoing campaign for justice and answers.”

Rayner continued: “The Government failed in its fundamental duty to keep the residents of Grenfell Tower safe. Lives were lost as a consequence of profound failures within the building safety system. On behalf of the British state, I’m sorry for that.”

Further, Rayner said: “The Metropolitan Police Service has now handed case files to the Crown Prosecution Service. This marks an important step. Operation Northleigh has been conducted independently of Government and it’s absolutely right that the independent criminal justice process takes its course.”

In addition, Rayner observed: “Back in 2023, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) was notified by the Metropolitan Police Service that it was under investigation. The Ministry has co-operated fully with the investigation process throughout its duration. In order to protect the integrity of the investigation, the MHCLG has not, until now, discussed publicly the detail of the investigation, including its own status as a subject of this process.”

The Metropolitan Police Service has confirmed that a file relating to MHCLG has been referred to the Crown Prosecution Service for the latter to conduct a full and independent review of the evidence and then determine whether the evidential requirements in relation to a potential breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 have been reached.

Rayner commented: “I recognise the significance and gravity of this latest development. We will respond with the appropriate and necessary diligence and care. The Crown Prosecution Service will lead on the next steps, while the Government continues to co-operate fully in the next stage of this process.”

According to Rayner: “The Grenfell Tower Inquiry exposed profound failures in the building safety system. As Secretary of State, I recognise that confidence will only be rebuilt through sustained action and visible change. I will ensure that the lessons from the Public Inquiry drive real and lasting change in terms of how Government works and provide safe homes for people across the country. We must ensure that a tragedy like Grenfell can never happen again.”

Ms Abena Oppong-Asare MP, chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee in Parliament, has observed: “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 it can to help avoid any further delays and, outside of any criminal proceedings, ensure that building safety is a top priority.”

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

In relation to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Metropolitan Police Service has also referred Kensington and Chelsea Council to the Crown Prosecution Service for alleged offences focused on corporate manslaughter, alleged offences in relation to Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and alleged offences contrary to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

The Crown Prosecution Service will now independently review the evidence and decide whether or not to charge Kensington and Chelsea Council. The latter expects that decision to be made and communicated to it before June next year.

Councillor Elizabeth Campbell, the leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said: “This is a significant moment for all of the bereaved family members, survivors, residents and all those affected by Grenfell. First and foremost, our thoughts remain with them and the 72 individuals who lost their lives. We hope that the legal process gives people the answers they seek.”

Campbell added: “We’ve accepted Kensington and Chelsea Council’s failings, while our commitment to candour, openness and accountability hasn’t changed. We will continue with our focus on meeting the commitments we made following the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.”

In conclusion, Campbell stated: “The Council has co-operated fully with the Metropolitan Police Service investigation, just as we fully co-operated throughout the separate Grenfell Tower Inquiry which concluded in 2024. We will continue to provide any information or assistance that’s asked of us.”

Statement from the London Fire Brigade

London Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith KFSM has been notified by the Metropolitan Police Service that, following the latter’s investigation into the events surrounding the Grenfell Tower fire, a file has now been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service for its consideration in respect of the London Fire Brigade. The Crown Prosecution Service will independently review the evidence and make any prosecution decisions.

The London Fire Commissioner welcomes the progress realised in the investigation process and reaffirms his commitment to providing the Crown Prosecution Service with full co-operation, as indeed the London Fire Brigade has sought to do throughout Operation Northleigh.

Jonathan Smith KFSM observed: “We remember the 72 people who lost their lives. Our thoughts remain with the bereaved, the survivors and everyone whose lives were changed forever by that night.”

Smith went on to comment: “The London Fire Brigade accepted the findings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and has now implemented all of the recommendations from Phase 1 and Phase 2. We continue to work with our partners across Government and the Fire and Rescue sector in order to ensure the lessons of the Grenfell tragedy are learned. Indeed, this continues to shape everything that we do.”

Fire Brigades Union general secretary Steve Wright stated: “After nearly a decade since the Grenfell atrocity, progress is finally being made towards prosecuting those culpable. Although we do welcome Crown Prosecution Service and police action, the Grenfell families along with our members who were part of the rescue effort that night have waited far too long for justice to take its course.”

Wright concluded: “The trauma and anguish suffered by the bereaved, survivors and relatives of Grenfell must not be in vain. The Fire Brigades Union will continue its relentless campaign alongside the victims’ families to see all those culpable prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”