Arabic version: النظر في توجيه تهم لنحو 60 فردًا في قضية حريق غرينفيل

The Metropolitan Police will ask the Crown Prosecution Service to consider charging up to 57 individuals and 20 companies over the Grenfell Tower fire disaster. According to BBC News, the police plan to submit evidence files to the CPS by the end of September 2023.

This move comes nearly a decade after the tragic fire, which occurred on June 14, 2017, and resulted in the deaths of 72 people. A final decision on whether to proceed with prosecutions may not be reached until June 2027, and if charges are filed, trials are unlikely to commence before 2029.

Garry Moncrieff from the Metropolitan Police stated that the number of individuals and organizations under consideration for charges is not expected to change significantly when the full submissions are made. The inquiry into the Grenfell disaster has been extensive, involving the actions of 15,000 people across 700 organizations, making it the largest investigation ever conducted by the Met Police.

Grenfell United, a group representing bereaved families and survivors, acknowledged the development as an important step but expressed frustration over the lengthy process. They emphasized the need for timely accountability and urged the government to ensure that the courts are adequately resourced to handle any related prosecutions swiftly. Moncrieff reiterated the importance of thoroughness in the investigation, stating that they aim to “do it once and do it right.”