CPS asked to consider manslaughter charges against firms and people over Grenfell fire

Prosecutors have been asked by the Metropolitan Police to consider manslaughter and a range of other charges against companies and individuals over the Grenfell Tower fire.

The force said it has now submitted all its files to the Crown Prosecution Service to allow it to make charging decisions in relation to the June 2017 blaze.

The files of evidence, which relate to 20 companies and organisations and 54 individuals, was a "milestone moment" in a "truly enormous" investigation, police said.

Seventy-two people died and more than 70 were injured after a fire broke out in the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block of flats in North Kensington, West London.

The Met said in a statement: "The 20 files relate to 20 companies and organisations and 54 individuals.

"They ask the CPS to consider charges including corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, health and safety offences, fraud and fraud-related offences and misconduct in public office.

"The CPS has committed to making the charging decisions before the 10th anniversary of the fire in June 2027."

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Kevin Southworth added: "This is a milestone moment in the police investigation into this devastating tragedy which took the lives of 72 people.

"Our dedicated team of 220 investigators has worked incredibly hard to honour our commitment to the bereaved, survivors, residents and all those affected by the fire to meet this timescale.

"We appreciate, of course, it has taken nine years to get to this point. As we have said before, this is one of the most complex investigations ever undertaken by any UK law enforcement agency - the scale is truly enormous.

"While we know this has had a significant impact on those waiting for answers, it has necessarily taken this long to ensure our investigation is meticulous and presents the very best possible evidence to the CPS for charging decisions." 

Investigators have looked at the role of more than 15,000 people and 700 organisations as part of the mammoth inquiry, and have submitted 12,600 pages of evidence to the CPS.

A total of 14,700 statements have been taken and more than 27,000 exhibits, including cladding, insulation, doors, windows and other parts of the building, down to screws, nuts and bolts, are stored in a secure warehouse.

Scale replica parts of the tower are being built at a cost of £2m in anticipation of potential court proceedings.

'Confident of charging decisions before 10th anniversary'

Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: "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.

"We recognise that the journey to this point has been long and difficult, and we do not underestimate the toll it has taken on those seeking answers and accountability.

"Charging decisions will be made independently by CPS prosecutors following a thorough and careful review of all the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police Service.

"We remain confident that we will complete this process and make charging decisions before the 10th anniversary of the fire on 14 June 2027."

Justice must be delivered 'as swiftly as possible', says MP

MP Joe Powell welcomed the latest developments.

In a post on social media, the Labour MP for Kensington and Bayswater said: "Bereaved, families and survivors have waited far too long for justice, and we must see criminal accountability.

"My position remains clear that we must do everything in our power to ensure that justice is delivered as swiftly as possible."

Grenfell United, which represents some bereaved families and survivors, said it expects the case to move forward "without further unnecessary delay".

"No family should have to fight this hard, for this long, for justice," it added.

'Systematic dishonesty' and 'decades of failure'

The public inquiry into the fire found it had been preceded by "decades of failure" by governments and the building industry to act on the dangers of flammable materials on high-rise buildings.

It also found victims, the bereaved and survivors were "badly failed" through incompetence, dishonesty and greed.

The tower block was covered in combustible products because of "systematic dishonesty", inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick said in his final report in 2024.

He also condemned the "deliberate and sustained" manipulation of fire safety testing, misrepresentation of test data and misleading of the market.

(c) Sky News 2026: CPS asked to consider manslaughter charges against firms and people over Grenfell fire