Police to seek criminal charges against 77 companies and people over Grenfell fire

Scotland Yard has said it hopes to bring criminal charges against 77 companies and individuals for the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire , in which 72 people died. The lead investigator, Garry Moncrieff, said his team of 220 detectives had gathered “strong evidence” of potential wrongdoing. Police said they were sending a series of files of evidence to prosecutors later this year seeking a decision on whether criminal trials should be held. The Crown Prosecution Service said it expected to make decisions on charges by June 2027, the 10th anniversary of the disaster. Police say files will be sent to the CPS seeking charging decisions about 57 individuals and 20 companies. Moncrieff said: “It’s our job to make sure that we do a fair, thorough, and comprehensive investigation, so that charging decisions can be taken, and that fairness runs throughout everything that we do. “What I can say is that we have gathered strong evidence, and that evidence is sufficient, that we will be submitting files to the Crown Prosecution Service for them to make charging decisions.” But it emerged that there was no prospect of any individual or company appearing in court until next year at the very earliest. It is more likely no trial would get before a jury until 2028, 11 years after fire tore through the west London tower block, or possibly even later. Offences being considered include corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, fraud, and health and safety offences, police have said. …