More than 50 people could face criminal charges NINE years on from tragic Grenfell Tower fire

The Metropolitan Police has revealed more than 50 individuals could face criminal charges in connection with the Grenfell Tower fire, almost a decade on.

Fifty-seven individuals and 20 organisations could be prosecuted over the 2017 fire, which killed 72 people in one of Britain's worst modern disasters.

Charges are set to be submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service by September, the force announced today, with decisions anticipated before the tenth anniversary of the fire next summer.

The investigation, known as Operation Northleigh, has examined possible offences ranging from corporate and gross negligence manslaughter, to fraud, misconduct in public office, and breaches of health and safety legislation.

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The unprecedented police enquiry saw officers sift through a whopping 165 million electronic files, and take 14,400 witness statements over the nine years.

The investigation has cost around £150 million, making it the largest and most complex probe Scotland Yard has ever undertaken.

Garry Moncrieff, senior officer leading the investigation, described the "huge challenge" involved in attempting to "decipher" and "disentangle" responsibility, given the number of parties involved.

"We are almost ready to submit files to the CPS," he confirmed.

Grenfell United, representing bereaved families and survivors, described the prolonged wait for justice as "unbearable".

"Today's update from the Metropolitan Police marks an important step in a process that has already taken far too long," a spokesman said.

"For our community, this is not news we meet with celebration. We meet it with caution, grief and determination. We have waited almost a decade for accountability.

"Justice delayed any further would be unacceptable."

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A £2million full-scale replica of a tower section is also being constructed for use in future court proceedings, though trials are not expected to commence before 2029.

The announcement follows the damning conclusions of a public inquiry in September 2024, chaired by Sir Martin Moore-Bick.

The inquiry determined the North Kensington tower block had been transformed into a "death trap" by construction companies, architects and politicians who "disregarded fire safety for decades".

Sir Martin identified architects Studio E, principal contractor Rydon, sub-contractors Harley and Exova, and Kensington and Chelsea Council as bearing primary responsibility.

"The simple truth is that the deaths that occurred were all avoidable," he said at the time, attributing the failings to "incompetence", "dishonesty", and "greed".

The inquiry exposed how cost-cutting during the tower's refurbishment took precedence over safety, leaving the building clad in cheap, highly flammable materials.

Residents' warnings about dangers in the building had also been ignored.

Simon Dudley, a former executive at Homes England and the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, was sacked from his job as Reform UK's housing spokesman last month over "callous" comments on the tragedy.

He said the deadly blaze was a "tragedy", but that "everyone dies in the end".

Reform leader Nigel Farage later confirmed Dudley was "no longer a spokesman for the party" at press conference.

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