Grenfell Inquiry Panel Recommends Request Over Self-Incrimination

THE PANEL AT THE Grenfell Inquiry has written to the Attorney General recommending that oral evidence from witnesses will not be used against them in criminal proceedings.

The request was submitted for the consideration of the Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox MP, on behalf of subcontractor Harley Façades, Studio E Architects, installers Osborne Berry, and the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation – as well as a number of other individuals.

Survivors, the families of the deceased and other core participants had objected to the application, with a hearing taking place on Monday allowing them to outline their objections to the application.

However if granted by the Attorney General, the request will only apply to oral evidence and not documents, or statements already submitted.

The panel agreed that as their function was fact-finding rather than to determine guilt, it would not be in its interest to have witnesses liable to hold back for fear of self-incrimination.

The panel concluded: “In these circumstances we have come to the conclusion that it will not be possible for the Inquiry properly to fulfil its Terms of Reference if witnesses do not have an assurance that the answers they give to questions will not be used in furtherance of criminal proceedings against them.

“Without an undertaking of the kind described above it is very likely that witnesses who were involved in the procurement and design of the refurbishment, the choice of materials and the execution of the work will claim privilege against self-incrimination, or, if they do not, that they will be considerably less candid than would otherwise have been the case as a result of trying to avoid saying anything that might harm their position in the future.”

Ongoing investigation

The Grenfell fire is still under investigation by the Metropolitan Police, with scope for prosecuting Gross Negligence Manslaughter where evidence is found.

The Inquiry panel will consider the request in the coming days. No further evidence will be heard by the inquiry this week, with witnesses all stood down.

A statement from the Inquiry read: “The Panel is currently considering the application for an Attorney General’s undertaking.

“The Inquiry has written to Core Participants to inform them that no further hearings will take place this week.

“A further announcement regarding the timetable will be made once the Panel has issued its Ruling on the application.”