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Morning Briefing: public prosecutor speaks about Grenfell charges
The director of public prosecutions flags the possibility of charges against individuals over Grenfell, while Bellway reports increased turnover
In the news
Several newspapers are reporting comments from the director of public prosecutions about potential criminal charges against individuals over the Grenfell Tower fire in June.
According to the reports, including in The Independent overnight, Alison Saunders said: “There are a whole raft of offences against both individuals and possibly companies that we could be looking at depending on what the evidence shows. If there is sufficient evidence then we will be prosecuting.” Ms Saunders said manslaughter by gross negligence will be considered by the Crown if the police uncover enough evidence.
Scotland Yard has previously said there are reasonable grounds to suspect Kensington and Chelsea Council and Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation may have committed “corporate manslaughter”.
Inside Housing last month published a piece by lawyer David Beckenham, of Keystone Law, looking at the issues police and prosecutors will have to consider in order to bring charges.
Elsewhere today, the Financial Times is reporting an increased turnover for Bellway. Read the house builder’s full report to the stock market here.
The Guardian is reporting on developer Countryside buying back freeholds and axing ground rent clauses in what the newspaper is calling a “breakthrough in leasehold scandal”.
Local website Barrhead News, which covers East Renfrewshire in Scotland, has a story about controversy over affordable housing levels in a planned development, while in Northern Ireland there are claims that Belfast City Council used a Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) contractor to store pallets for loyalist bonfires. The NIHE is reported as saying it did not sanction the move.
On social media
Campaign group Bristol Future has produced a nifty visualisation of data showing results of research showing local people’s housing priorities.
What do #Bristol people aged between 16 and 24 say is their biggest #ukhousing priority? Find out using our interactive dashboard. pic.twitter.com/8VoJNsUNrX
— Bristol Future (@BristolFuture)What do #Bristol people aged between 16 and 24 say is their biggest #ukhousing priority? Find out using our interactive dashboard. pic.twitter.com/8VoJNsUNrX
— Bristol Future (@BristolFuture) August 7, 2017
To see the group’s interactive website, click here.
