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Grenfell families ‘angry and frustrated’ over inquiry and government response
Families bereaved by the Grenfell Tower fire are angry and frustrated by the government response and public inquiry into the disaster.
A new report published today by Inquest, a charity which scrutinises investigations into state-related deaths, found that families “felt abandoned by the state at all levels” in the aftermath of the blaze.
The bereaved families expressed “serious concerns” with Sir Martin Moore-Bick’s inquiry including the uncertain timeframes, the choice of venue, the absence of interim recommendations and the disclosure of evidence, frustrations that lawyers cannot question witnesses directly and a perceived lack of candour.
The report is based on a family consultation day held in February this year with people who lost loved ones at Grenfell in June 2017.
It was the first time families have come together to reflect on their experiences in the wake of the disaster, according to Inquest.
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Participants said there was a need for an independent decision-making panel for phase two of the inquiry – which will focus on decisions made during the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower before the fire – as the current absence of one was “impeding their trust and confidence in the process”.
Prime minister Theresa May announced in May 2018 that a decision-making panel would be appointed for phase one of the inquiry, following pressure from bereaved families.
The families called for public inquiries to include an independent and diverse decision-making panel, meaningful consultation on the venue and for family lawyers to be allowed to question witnesses directly.
They also said public bodies should have to adopt a “duty of candour” following a disaster of Grenfell’s scale, among other recommendations.
A spokesperson for survivors’ and bereaved persons’ group Grenfell United said: “It is so important the government and inquiry understand what we went through in our own words.
“We hope in particular the inquiry team will urgently take on board the ideas put forward by families in this report.
“Families must be at the heart of the inquiry if we are ever to get the truth for our loved ones.”
Sadik Kelbeto, one of the bereaved, said: “My whole family was wiped out by the fire. Their voices can no longer be heard. I have to represent them. I owe it to them.
“This report is important because these are our words and our voices. The government have an obligation to listen to us. If they don’t listen to us, then who will they listen to?”
Deborah Coles, executive director of Inquest, said: “There were systemic failings before, during and after the disaster and families feel disconnected from a process that has still not delivered a panel, interim recommendations and where their lawyers voices have been sanitised.
“They are in a state of limbo with no clear timeframes, which exacerbates mental and physical ill health.
Kensington and Chelsea Council said it is pushing for more transparency in the inquiry process and has offered advice on the venue.
Elizabeth Campbell, leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said: “Our first thoughts and our last thoughts will be with those that lost their lives, so we are assisting the inquiry to expose the lessons of Grenfell so they can be applied by every council, every authority, every building owner, every private landlord and every single person that has responsibility for housing in this country.
“To reiterate the council has no interest in defending itself at the inquiry, we are a public authority and we want the clear and unvarnished truth for the victims and the bereaved.”
Inside Housing has contacted the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for comment.
