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Met Police considering manslaughter charges over Grenfell
There are “reasonable grounds” to suspect corporate manslaughter over the Grenfell Tower fire, the Metropolitan Police has said.
In a letter to residents affected by last month’s fire at Grenfell Tower, which killed at least 80 people, the police gave an update on what they called “one of the largest criminal investigations outside of counter-terrorism operations”.
According to the letter, the officer leading the investigation has found “reasonable grounds to suspect” that Kensington and Chelsea Council and Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation may have committed “corporate manslaughter”.
To commit corporate manslaughter, according to the law, it must be proven that either organisation caused residents’ deaths by a gross breach of a duty of care.
Such a breach is defined as conduct falling “far below what can be reasonably be expected of the organisation in the circumstances”.
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No prison sentences can be issued for corporate manslaughter. Instead, anyone found guilty could be hit with a fine.
The police letter added: “In due course, a senior representative of each corporation will be formally interviewed by police in relation to the potential offence.”
It also clarified that other “offences, organisations or individuals” may still be under investigation.
Elizabeth Campbell, the newly elected leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, said: “Our residents deserve answers about the Grenfell Tower fire and the police investigation will provide these. We fully support the Metropolitan Police investigation and we will co-operate in every way we can.”
Meanwhile, exclusive Inside Housing research published today revealed fire safety flaws in tower blocks.
For our searchable database of fire risk assessments, click here
