Seven years after the tragic fire that claimed lives, the final report on Grenfell Tower is set to reveal findings…

4 September 2024, 07:46

By EJ Ward

More than seven years after the disaster, a highly anticipated report on the tragic deaths of 72 people in the Grenfell Tower fire is to be published.

This comprehensive document, the final report of the inquiry into the 2017 tragedy, is expected to detail the actions and responsibilities of construction companies, local authorities, the London Fire Brigade and the Government.

The victims' families called for the report to be a “groundbreaking” report that would encourage significant changes to the “web of blame” that came to light during the hearings.

An earlier report from the first phase of the investigation, published in 2019, said the tower's cladding did not comply with building regulations and was the “major factor” in the rapid and “deeply shocking” spread of the fire.

This final report follows further hearings into the tower's refurbishment in 2016 and will draw conclusions about how the west London block of flats came to a state that allowed the fire to spread so quickly.

The publication of this report comes just over a week after a major fire in east London, where the cladding of a block of houses was removed due to safety concerns following the Grenfell fire.

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LBC Views: Fire in Dagenham triggers fears of ‘Grenfell 2’ and is a stark reminder of the ongoing building safety crisis

The Dagenham fire, which left no fatalities, has drawn renewed criticism, particularly from bereaved families and the survivors group Grenfell United, who have pointed to the “painfully slow progress in clean-up work across the country” and the “lack of urgency” regarding building safety.

Dame Judith Hackitt, who led an independent review of building regulations following the Grenfell disaster, expressed concern that so many people continue to live in fear and uncertainty about the safety of their homes.

At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the Dagenham fire was a stark reminder of the importance of learning from the Grenfell disaster to ensure such mistakes are never repeated.

The firefighters' union described the Grenfell Park fire as “a crime caused by deregulation and institutional failure at the highest levels.”

The final hearing of the second phase of the investigation ended in November 2022. The families spoke of their long wait and their ongoing fight for justice.

The findings of this final report could increase pressure on police and prosecutors to speed up their efforts to bring those responsible to justice – a demand that survivors and relatives have long been calling for.

In May, the Metropolitan Police said its investigation would not be completed until the end of 2025. After that, the Crown Prosecution Service would need another year to decide whether to bring charges.

Survivors and relatives described the wait, which could mean the search for justice continues for a decade after the fire, as “unbearable.”

According to police and public prosecutors, the extensive investigation into the fire has already yielded 27,000 investigative leads and over 12,000 witness statements.

A total of 58 individuals and 19 companies and organizations remain under investigation for possible criminal charges. In total, over 300 hours of interviews have been conducted.

Potential charges under consideration include corporate manslaughter, manslaughter through gross negligence, perverting the course of justice, abuse of office, violations of health and safety regulations, fraud, and violations of fire and building codes.