London Fire Brigade Named in Grenfell Fire Investigation File

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has confirmed it is among the organizations under consideration for possible criminal charges related to the Grenfell Tower fire.

Prosecutors have received an evidence file from the Metropolitan Police containing details on 20 organizations and 54 individuals. The Met's investigation, known as Operation Northleigh, began shortly after the June 2017 disaster and has involved hundreds of officers. The police are seeking charges that could include corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, health and safety offenses, and fraud-related offenses in connection with the deaths of 72 people.

London Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith stated he welcomed the progress in the investigation and reaffirmed the brigade's commitment to full cooperation with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). "We remember the 72 people who lost their lives, and our thoughts remain with the bereaved, survivors and everyone whose lives were changed forever by that night," Smith said. He added that the LFB has accepted the findings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and implemented all its recommendations. "We continue working with our partners across government and the fire and rescue sector to ensure the lessons of the Grenfell tragedy are learnt, and this continues to shape everything we do."

Most organizations and individuals named in the file have not yet been publicly identified. However, the local authority, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), is facing potential prosecution for corporate manslaughter, violations of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and breaches of the Regulatory Reform (fire safety) Order 2005. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which oversees building safety, has also been referred to the CPS.

The fire originated in a fourth-floor flat and spread rapidly up the exterior of the building due to combustible cladding. A public inquiry concluded that the fire was avoidable, citing a series of failures by government bodies and private companies.

In the first phase of the inquiry, the LFB's response was criticized for "serious shortcomings" and systemic failures by the inquiry chair, Sir Martin Moore-Bick. The report suggested that earlier actions by the LFB could have saved lives.

Grenfell United, a group representing bereaved families and survivors, has previously expressed frustration with the pace of the investigation, noting that it has been over nine years since the fire with no criminal accountability. The group is seeking justice for the victims.

The CPS is expected to make charging decisions before the 10th anniversary of the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2027.