Police Submits all Grenfell Files to CPS for Charging Decisions

The Metropolitan police force has now submitted all files to the Crown Prosecution Service to allow them to make charging decisions in relation to the Grenfell Tower fire.

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 and misconduct in public office.

The CPS has committed to making the charging decisions before the 10^th anniversary of the fire in June 2027.

Police Investigation

Commenting on the length of the nine-year investigation, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Kevin Southworth said: “While we know this has had a significant impact on those waiting for answers, it has necessarily taken this long to ensure our investigation is meticulous and presents the very best possible evidence to the CPS for charging decisions.”

The police investigation has involved:

• 15,000 individuals and 700 organisations. 54 people and 20 organisations identified as suspects for the criminal offences referred today to the CPS.
• 20 files submitted to the CPS including 14 overarching evidence files. 4 million words and 12,600 pages, referencing more than 45,000 documents, images and exhibits.
• Close liaison with the CPS throughout the investigation to obtain guidance and advice on submitting the best possible evidence to enable them to reach charging decisions. This will continue.
• Recovery operation to find, recover and identify all those who died. Every single flat and communal area searched, including full forensic fingertip search. 15 tonnes of debris on each floor examined.
• Grenfell Tower was held by police as a crime scene for 14 months.
• 165 million electronic files gathered to search for evidence.
• Examined public inquiry in detail, including final report’s 1,700 pages cross referenced against the police investigation.
• 14,700 statements have been taken.
• 27,000 exhibits, including cladding, insulation, doors, windows and other parts of the building, down to screws, nut and bolts.

The Met has launched a Grenfell Tower investigation website to keep all those affected updated.

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