The Metropolitan Police have announced that a decision on whether to bring criminal charges over the Grenfell Tower tragedy is expected before the 10th anniversary of the disaster. In a special media briefing, police revealed that 57 individuals and 20 organisations are currently considered suspects in the investigation. One arrest has been made, and that person has been released under investigation, while several others have been interviewed under caution.
Possible Charges and Timeline
Possible charges include corporate manslaughter, gross negligence, misconduct in public office, and health and safety breaches. If a criminal trial proceeds, it could begin by 2029 or earlier, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The Met is set to pass charge files to the CPS as early as the end of September this year. Garry Moncrieff, the officer in overall command of the investigation, described the £150 million criminal investigation as "one of the largest and most complicated" ever undertaken by the Met. He noted that forensic investigators spent 14 months at the tower gathering evidence and that police have "gathered strong evidence."
Families and Survivors React
A spokesperson for Grenfell United, which represents some of the bereaved families and survivors, called for no further delay. The group stated: "Today's update from the Metropolitan Police marks an important step in a process that has already taken far too long. Nearly 10 years after the Grenfell Tower fire claimed the lives of 72 people, bereaved families, survivors and residents are being told that files will begin to be passed to the Crown Prosecution Service in September 2026, with charging decisions expected before the tenth anniversary. For our community, this is not news we meet with celebration. We meet it with caution, grief and determination. We have waited almost a decade for accountability. No family should have to wait over 10 years for justice for their loved ones, if it comes at all."
The group added: "The final report of the Grenfell Inquiry laid bare the shocking failures, dishonesty and disregard for human life that led to the fire. Grenfell was not a tragedy without cause. Those responsible must now be held to account. But after waiting nearly 10 years, our community cannot be expected to endure years more of delay. The Ministry of Justice and the Government must ensure the courts are properly resourced so that any prosecutions linked to Grenfell are heard swiftly. Justice delayed any further would be unacceptable."
Investigation Details
Charge files are set to be handed over to the CPS by September 30. Any charges will likely be brought before the 10th anniversary of the tragedy, which takes place next summer. The number of people considered suspects could vary before the files are officially handed over. A £2 million replica of Grenfell Tower will be used as part of any future criminal trial, with the location already decided. No fire testing will take place on the replica. The Metropolitan Police Service has evaluated the role of 15,000 people and 700 organisations as part of its investigation. It has gathered over 165 million electronic files and meticulously searched them for evidence, with 14,000 statements taken.
