Full Breakdown
Grenfell Tower Investigation Reaches Charging Milestone
By Drooid · · How we work
The Investigation’s Core Findings
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police have handed the Crown Prosecution Service a dossier covering 20 companies and organisations and 54 individuals linked to the June 2017 Grenfell Tower fire. The submission includes 12,600 pages of evidence, 14,700 witness statements, and more than 27,000 exhibits—from cladding panels to individual screws and bolts—stored in a secure warehouse.
Background and Inquiry Context
On June 14, 2017, a refrigerator fault ignited a blaze that swept through the 24-storey tower in North Kensington, killing 72 people, including 18 children. A public inquiry concluded in 2024 that the disaster was “avoidable” and stemmed from “decades of failure” by government and the construction industry to curb combustible cladding. Inquiry chair Sir Martin Moore-Bick described the supply chain as marked by “systematic dishonesty” and “deliberate and sustained” manipulation of fire-safety testing.
Potential Charges
The CPS has been asked to consider offences including corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, health and safety breaches under the 1974 Act, fraud-related offences and misconduct in public office.
Official Statements & Responses
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Kevin Southworth called the hand-over a “milestone moment,” noting the scale of the investigation. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner pledged “diligence and care” in responding to the CPS review. Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter-Terrorism Division, said charging decisions will be completed before the June 14, 2027 deadline.
Criticism & Opposition
Survivors and campaigners have described the nine-year wait as “tortuous” and “deeply frustrating.” Ed Daffarn, a survivor, said the delay allows alleged perpetrators to “go on with their lives” while families suffer. Marcio Gomes, who lost his infant son, urged prosecutors to “throw the book” at those with “blood on their hands.”
Data & Statistics
- Deaths: 72 (including 18 children)
- Individuals named: 54 (some reports cite 57)
- Companies/organisations named: 20
- Pages of evidence: 12,600
- Statements taken: 14,700
- Exhibits stored: >27,000
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Most outlets report 54 individuals as potential defendants, while the Mirror notes 57 as of May 2026. No source clarifies which figure is definitive.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I think it's hard not to be surprised, when you put all the evidence together about Grenfell, how much was known by so many people,” — Peter Apps, journalist
- “We want those responsible to face justice. If people are found guilty of crimes that cost our loved ones their lives, we want to see them behind bars. Only then will people see that there are real consequences for what happened at Grenfell.” — Andy Burnham
- “We remain confident that we will complete this process and make charging decisions before the 10th anniversary of the fire on June 14 2027.” — Frank Ferguson
What’s Next
The CPS will issue charging decisions before the 10th anniversary of the fire on June 14, 2027. If charges are brought, trials are not expected until 2029 at the earliest, given the case’s complexity. Police are constructing £2 million worth of replica tower sections to aid jurors, and Grenfell United continues to press for swift progress, warning that families have “waited long enough.”