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Grenfell Tower: police may consider individual manslaughter charges Grenfell Tower: police may consider individual manslaughter charges
(35 minutes later)
The criminal investigation into the Grenfell Tower disaster may consider individual as well as corporate manslaughter charges, Scotland Yard has said.The criminal investigation into the Grenfell Tower disaster may consider individual as well as corporate manslaughter charges, Scotland Yard has said.
At a briefing on Tuesday morning, officers said that individual charges were a possibility as well as charges relating to fraud, misconduct, health and safety breaches and breaches of fire safety regulations.At a briefing on Tuesday morning, officers said that individual charges were a possibility as well as charges relating to fraud, misconduct, health and safety breaches and breaches of fire safety regulations.
Det Ch Supt Matt Bonner told reporters: “This isn’t to be taken as indication that there is any evidence that we have found that would support these types of offences … we will keep an open mind, gather the material that exists and then make decisions once we have had an opportunity to fully review everything.”Det Ch Supt Matt Bonner told reporters: “This isn’t to be taken as indication that there is any evidence that we have found that would support these types of offences … we will keep an open mind, gather the material that exists and then make decisions once we have had an opportunity to fully review everything.”
The suggestion that individual charges could be brought will be welcomed by survivors of the disaster and campaign groups, which have demanded prosecutions against those who they believe have some responsibility for the fire. The suggestion that individual charges could be brought will be welcomed by survivors of the disaster and campaign groups, which have demanded prosecutions against those who they believe bear some responsibility for the fire.
After Scotland Yard raised the prospect of corporate manslaughter charges in July the campaign group Justice 4 Grenfell said: “What we want is individuals named and prosecuted – you can have both, but we don’t want corporate manslaughter on its own. People implement policy, people make decisions, people took particular actions and those people are responsible.” After Scotland Yard raised the prospect of corporate manslaughter charges in July, the campaign group Justice 4 Grenfell said: “What we want is individuals named and prosecuted – you can have both, but we don’t want corporate manslaughter on its own. People implement policy, people make decisions, people took particular actions and those people are responsible.”
At the Met police briefing on the state of the investigation a senior officer also apologised as she revealed that four cases of theft were suspected to have taken place while the tower was under 24-hour police guard. At the Met police briefing on the state of the investigation, a senior officer apologised as she revealed that four cases of theft were suspected to have taken place while the tower was under 24-hour police guard.
Besides that, detectives are investigating eight suspected cases of fraud involving people believed to have misrepresented themselves to benefit from the money made available to survivors, it was revealed on Tuesday. Two people have already been charged. BDetectives were also investigating eight suspected cases of fraud involving people believed to have misrepresented themselves to benefit from the money made available to survivors, it was revealed on Tuesday. Two people have already been charged.
The Met police commander Stuart Cundy said he had met relatives of the dead and survivors of the tragedy on Monday night and told them he believed the final death toll might be slightly lower than the 80 people previously posited. The Met police commander Stuart Cundy said he had met survivors and relatives of the dead on Monday night and told them he believed the final death toll might be slightly lower than the 80 people previously posited.
He said 60 people had been formally identified and CCTV showed 240 people had left the tower between midnight and 8am on the night of the fire. He added that cases of fraud coming to light, including people reported missing turning out to be fictitious, could be one factor leading to the final death toll being slightly fewer than 80 people.He said 60 people had been formally identified and CCTV showed 240 people had left the tower between midnight and 8am on the night of the fire. He added that cases of fraud coming to light, including people reported missing turning out to be fictitious, could be one factor leading to the final death toll being slightly fewer than 80 people.
Nevertheless, he said, there could still be people with no social or family connection outside the tower, and not on any official lists, who could still be within the high-rise. He declined to say by many the death count could fall. Nevertheless, he said, there could still be people with no social or family connection outside the tower, and not on any official lists, who could still be within the high-rise. He declined to say by how many the death count could fall.
Cundy expressed his distress at the suspected cases of theft, at least one of which involved a significant sum of money, though the officers said they were open to the possibility that some of the missing items may have been placed in storage by the authorities responsible for the building.Cundy expressed his distress at the suspected cases of theft, at least one of which involved a significant sum of money, though the officers said they were open to the possibility that some of the missing items may have been placed in storage by the authorities responsible for the building.
“It would be fair to say that all of us … are just so disappointed – so disappointed that something like this could happen on the back of such a huge tragedy,” he told reporters.“It would be fair to say that all of us … are just so disappointed – so disappointed that something like this could happen on the back of such a huge tragedy,” he told reporters.
Det Ch Supt Fiona McCormack said: “We thought the 24/7 security would be sufficient. It hasn’t been and I am terribly sorry about that. But we have increased significantly the security at Grenfell Tower.”Det Ch Supt Fiona McCormack said: “We thought the 24/7 security would be sufficient. It hasn’t been and I am terribly sorry about that. But we have increased significantly the security at Grenfell Tower.”
So far, Bonner said, investigators have gathered 31m documents and sought specialist software to help sift through it and decide what it is necessary to look at in more detail. So far, Bonner said, investigators have gathered 31m documents and sought specialist software to help sift through them and decide what it is necessary to look at in more detail.
The force has also identified 2,400 people to speak to and taken more than 1,000 statements. Those include 675 firefighters, 340 police officers and a similar number of ambulance staff involved in the emergency response up until 8pm on 14 June, he said. The force has also identified 2,400 people to whom they wish to speak and taken more than 1,000 statements. Those include statements from 675 firefighters, 340 police officers and a similar number of ambulance staff involved in the emergency response up until 8pm on 14 June, he said.
Bonner added that his team had identified 336 companies and organisations linked to the construction, refurbishment and management of the tower – a significant increase in recent weeks. He said those included some with little or no involvement and others directly responsible for managing the building.Bonner added that his team had identified 336 companies and organisations linked to the construction, refurbishment and management of the tower – a significant increase in recent weeks. He said those included some with little or no involvement and others directly responsible for managing the building.
Officers said detectives would continue working in the tower into the new year, with a further police operation to begin once that phase was finished. Officers estimate that they are about halfway through the work in the tower.Officers said detectives would continue working in the tower into the new year, with a further police operation to begin once that phase was finished. Officers estimate that they are about halfway through the work in the tower.