Law and Lawyers: Grenfell Tower Fire 14 June 2017 ~ Final Report and earlier reports

With updates - 5, 6, 7 and 8 September

On 14 June 2017, a fire occurred in Flat 16 at Grenfell Tower, Kensington. The resident promptly contacted emergency services but the fire spread rapidly and engulfed the whole tower block. That was principally due to cladding on the building which contained Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) with a polyethylene core. 72 lives were lost and many made homeless.

The Prime Minister, then Theresa May, set up an inquiry to be held under the Inquiries Act 2005 and appointed a former Lord Justice of Appeal - Sir Martin Moore-Bick - as its chair.

Here are the reports from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. I will add links to any commentaries as they become available.

October 2019 - Phase 1 report | Grenfell Tower Inquiry

September 2024 - Phase 2 report | Grenfell Tower Inquiry

Note that an inquiry under the 2005 Act may not rule on, and has no power to determine, any person's civil or criminal liability. But, an inquiry panel is not to be inhibited in the discharge of its functions by any likelihood of liability being inferred from facts that it determines or recommendations that it makes.

Other links

Youtube

Grenfell Tower Inquiry - YouTube

Government - Progress against the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 recommendations, February 2024 - GOV.UK (publishing.service.gov.uk)

May 2024 - Grenfell Tower site update May 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

4 September 2024 - Publication of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase 2 report - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

London Fire Brigade

13 March 2024 - London Fire Brigade completes every recommendation of Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase 1 and promises further change to keep Londoners safe | London Fire Brigade (london-fire.gov.uk)

4 September 2024 - London Fire Brigade's Response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report | London Fire Brigade (london-fire.gov.uk)

Metropolitan Police

Investigation into Grenfell Tower tragedy | Metropolitan Police

4 September 2024 - Met responds to publication of Grenfell Tower public inquiry report | Metropolitan Police

Crown Prosecution Service

4 September 2024 - CPS statement on Grenfell | The Crown Prosecution Service

Legislation

Deregulation Act 2015 (legislation.gov.uk)

Inquiries Act 2005

Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004

Fire Safety Act 2021

Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022

Building Safety Act 2022 and Explanatory Notes

Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 (legislation.gov.uk) and Explanatory Notes

Expert witness reports

The Inquiry heard from several expert witnesses - Expert witnesses | Grenfell Tower Inquiry and, in some cases, the witnesses provided their own reports to the inquiry -

Professor Niamh Nic Daeid - Cause and spread of fire - full report
Dr Barbara Lane - Fire protection measures - full report
Professor Luke Bisby - Ignition of the facade materials - full report
Professor Jose Torero - Spread of the fire - full report
Mr Colin Todd - Statutory and regulatory requirements - full report

The Hackitt Review

On 30 August 2017, an independent review of building regulations and fire safety was announced - see the terms of reference and this issued an interim report in December 2017 and a final report in May 2018 - see the Hackitt Review.

Statement on the Hackitt Review - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Parliament

House of Lords 2017 - Deregulation: Government Policy since 1997 - House of Lords Library (parliament.uk)

4 September 2024 - Prime Minister's Statement - Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report - Hansard - UK Parliament

Commentaries

13 September 2018 - What the Grenfell Tower Inquiry reveals about failings in fire protection (ifsecglobal.com)

4 September 2024 - Grenfell Tower fire: judge-led inquiry publishes final report into 2017 disaster which claimed 72 lives | Law Gazette

5 September 2024 - Grenfell inquiry recommendations trail construction regulation reform (pinsentmasons.com)

5 September 2024 - Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report: all our coverage in one place | News | Building

5 September 2024 - RIBA responds to Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report (architecture.com)

5 September 2024 - “Grief, anger and vindication” – FBU responds to the Grenfell Tower public inquiry | Fire Brigades Union

Media