UK police submit Grenfell fire evidence on 54 people and 20 firms to prosecutors

Evidence submission to prosecutors

Detectives investigating the Grenfell Tower disaster have formally transferred evidence files relating to 20 companies and 54 individuals to the Crown Prosecution Service. The files represent the conclusion of nine years of police work following the fire on 14 June 2017 in North Kensington, west London, which caused the deaths of 72 people. The handover allows state prosecutors to review criminal liability across both commercial entities and individuals involved in the refurbishment and management of the high-rise tower. Findings from a 2024 public inquiry established that the blaze was avoidable, concluding that decades of central government failure regarding combustible cladding coincided with systematic dishonesty by manufacturers whose products contributed to the fire. Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Kevin Southworth addressed the progress of the investigation and the commitment made to those affected by the disaster.

This is a milestone moment in the police investigation into this devastating tragedy which took the lives of 72 people.

Evidence scale and warehouse storage

The police operation ranks among the most complex inquiries ever conducted by a law enforcement agency in the United Kingdom. A dedicated team of 220 investigators reviewed the actions of more than 15,000 people and 700 separate organisations during the nine-year probe. Over the course of the inquiry, officers recorded a total of 14,700 witness statements and compiled 12,600 pages of evidence for prosecution review. Detectives also catalogued more than 27,000 physical exhibits, which are preserved in a secure warehouse facility. These physical items include sections of external cladding, insulation materials, doors, windows, and structural components down to individual screws, nuts, and bolts recovered from the building.

Potential charges and courtroom preparations

The files presented to prosecutors detail potential criminal offences across multiple legal categories, including corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, and health and safety violations. Investigators have also submitted evidence concerning fraud, fraud-related offences, and misconduct in public office relating to individuals and corporate entities. In preparation for prospective criminal trials, authorities are spending £2 million to construct physical scale replicas of sections of the tower block. A leading prosecutor has been appointed to direct any criminal cases that emerge from the police investigation. Frank Ferguson, the head of the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division at the CPS, addressed the evidentiary submission.

Today marks an important step in the Grenfell Tower investigation, and we understand the enduring impact this tragedy continues to have on bereaved families, survivors and all those affected.

Charging timetable and anniversary deadline

Crown prosecutors now carry the responsibility of evaluating the 12,600 pages of evidence to decide whether formal indictments will be brought against the 54 named individuals and 20 corporate entities. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that all charging determinations will be announced before 14 June 2027, which marks the tenth anniversary of the North Kensington fire. Police officials noted that nine years of investigative work were required to ensure that the evidence submitted to prosecutors was thorough and met legal standards. The process will determine whether company executives, manufacturers, or public officials face trial for their roles in the disaster.