Grenfell Inquiry Report Expected To Expose’ Catastrophic Failures’ And Spark Criminal Action”
Next week, survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster await the final report from the public inquiry, hoping it will end the ongoing blame game and hold those responsible accountable. The report is expected to criticize the actions of government officials, construction companies, and material manufacturers involved in the tragedy.
On June 14, 2017, the Grenfell Tower in West London was engulfed in flames after a poorly executed refurbishment, leading to the loss of 72 lives. On Tuesday, survivors and bereaved families will gather to hear the inquiry chair, Martin Moore-Bick, privately share his long-awaited conclusions and recommendations. This meeting will take place at the same hotel in West London where, over six years ago, the inquiry first heard emotional tributes to those who lost their lives.
The community is cautiously optimistic that the 1,700-page report, which will be released to the public the following day, will finally uncover the truth about the serious failures and potential criminal acts that led to the disaster. Many of these have been denied by the professionals, officials, companies, and politicians who provided evidence during the inquiry.
Ed Daffarn, a survivor who escaped from his 16th-floor flat amidst thick smoke and a leading member of the Grenfell United families group, expects the report to reveal widespread failures. He believes everyone involved, from national and local governments to builders, architects, and fire-testing agencies, failed catastrophically to keep residents safe, prioritizing profit over people.
“No one in the public inquiry ever gave us the truth,” Daffarn said. “They engaged in a carousel of blame-pointing. I must discover what happened, and I’m reasonably confident that we will get that when the report comes out.”
Among the politicians likely to face criticism are David Cameron, who oversaw the cutting of regulations before Grenfell, and former housing secretary Eric Pickles, who was criticized for handling fire safety recommendations and his dismissive attitude during the inquiry.
The Labour government has stated that it will carefully consider the report’s recommendations, while survivors and bereaved families seek a commitment to implement them fully. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reiterated the government’s commitment to justice for the Grenfell victims and the broader community. The government has pledged to improve building safety, accelerate cladding remediation, and hold those responsible for the crisis accountable.
Tiago Alves, who escaped from his family’s 13th-floor flat, hopes the report will challenge the perception that residents of council estates are second-class citizens. He emphasized the importance of criminal prosecutions, viewing them as essential to deterring future negligence and ensuring accountability.
The report is expected to harshly criticize companies like Arconic, whose French subsidiary supplied the combustible cladding panels, despite being aware of their dangers. Insulation manufacturers Celotex and Kingspan are also likely to face severe scrutiny.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which owned Grenfell Tower, is expected to reiterate its admission of failings and provide a detailed response to the inquiry in November. Several corporations have already contributed to a £150 million compensation settlement involving around 900 affected individuals.
The inquiry has warned that around 250 individuals involved in the tower’s management, maintenance, and refurbishment may face criticism. Scotland Yard has identified 58 individuals and 19 organizations as suspects in its ongoing investigation, which may lead to charges of manslaughter, fraud, and misconduct in public office. A team of 180 police officers will review Moore-Bick’s report in detail before any criminal prosecutions are initiated, with trials unlikely to begin before 2027.
The final report, set to be released to the public on Wednesday at 11 a.m., is expected to mark a significant step towards justice for the victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster.
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