Operation Northleigh, one of the largest investigations ever conducted by Scotland Yard, began after the blaze that killed 72 people in the 24-storey tower block in North Kensington in June 2017
The Grenfell inferno claimed 72 lives(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Met Police detectives probing the Grenfell fire disaster will submit their files to the Crown Prosecution Service this September, with a charging decision expected before the tenth anniversary next June, it was announced today.
Officers say 57 individuals and 20 organisations remain suspects in the investigation, which is codenamed Operation Northleigh and was set up, alongside a two-part public inquiry, after the blaze that killed 72 people in the tower block, in North Kensington, in June 2017. It is understood officers are probing possible charges of misconduct in public office, as well as corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, fraud and breaches of health and safety law.
Garry Moncrieff, Officer in Overall Command, said: “We have gathered strong evidence and we are on track to submit our charge files to the CPS by the end of September this year. We were at Grenfell Tower for more than 14 months gathering any evidence we need for the future investigation.”
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Speaking about the impact of the decision on the families, he said: “It’s a really important milestone for them. They’ve waited a really long time for this, but this is a hugely significant and difficult time for them. It has taken nine years almost to get to this stage and we cannot begin to understand the impact that must have had.” He added: “That is not the end of the police investigation. We may need to carry out more investigations and that will be an ongoing process for us.”
Police today revealed they have started building a to-scale model of parts of the tower, which will cost more than £2million to build, in preparation for a potential trial. Police say the number of suspects could change “a little” before the files are finally completed. If the CPS do authorise criminal charges and a trial, it is expected it would not go ahead before 2029.
Today’s announcement comes 20 months after a public inquiry concluded Grenfell Tower was turned into a death trap by “dishonest” construction firms, architects and negligent politicians who ignored fire safety for decades. The replica of parts of it is being built at a secret location in a bid to show what the tower looked like before, during and after the fire.
Police say they have already submitted 15 of 20 files, containing more than 2.2million words, to the CPS, who have been advising them since the start of the investigation. Detectives have described it as the largest, and most complex, investigations ever undertaken by Scotland Yard. It has so far cost at least £150.6m and involves 220 investigators and seen cops gather more than 27,000 pieces of evidence from the tower.
As part of the probe, the Met say they have investigated 15,000 individuals and 700 organisations. And they say 165million electronic files have been gathered “and merticulously searched for evidence” as part of the probe, with 14,400 statements taken.
It is understood they are also assessing the role of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and its tenant management organisation, companies involved in doing the work, and others which supplied and manufactured building materials.
Frank Ferguson, CPS Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: “It is not possible to be definitive on the time process, but we are confident we will make charging decisions by the time of the tenth anniversary.” Asked about when a possible trial could go ahead, he said: “It’s difficult to see it being much before 2029, but it could be.
“The court service understand there is a very large investigation ongoing and I know there has been contact made with them so that contingency planning can be made if there are charges. We have to see the evidence, we have to make the decisions on the evidence and then take it from there.” He added: “The early advice files we’re seen from the police are of a very high standard and illustrate the thoroughness of the investigation.”
The tragedy began in the early hours of June 14, 2017, after an electric fault in a fridge sparked a fire on the fourth floor, which was drawn upwards by highly flammable cladding encasing the building, rapidly consuming the 24-storey block. Around 1,300 firefighters are thought to have been involved in putting out the blaze, which also left a further 70 people injured.
The youngest victim was six-month-old Leena Belkadi, who died in her mother’s arms as she tried to flee. The oldest was Sheila Smith, 84, who had lived there for 34 years. The death toll also included six members of the Choucair family and five of the Hashim family, who lived on the 22nd floor.
Grenfell United, the bereaved families and survivors group, have said they need to see justice, describing the wait as “unbearable”.
Speaking in Parliament in February, Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: “For the bereaved and survivors and the wider Grenfell community, the need for justice is deeply felt, including decisions on criminal charges.” The minister added: “I know the slow progress is painful for those who have already waited too long for the justice they deserve.”
Since 2017, the Home Office has provided more than £30m in special grant funding to support Operation Northleigh. In March, the Met announced it was waiting to find out whether it would receive further government funding for the probe.
In 2022, a High Court judge ruled the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation were liable for fatalities in the fire. The following year, 900 claimants made up of bereaved families, survivors and residents agreed a landmark civil settlement with the Tenant Management Organisation.
A two-year process to demolish the tower began in September last year. A memorial banner, which includes the message “Forever in our hearts”, remains on the building, moving down as work progresses.
