Grenfell Fire: CPS Asked to Consider Manslaughter Charges Against Firms and Individuals

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British prosecutors have been asked to consider manslaughter and other criminal charges against companies and individuals over the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, which claimed the lives of 72 people in west London. The Metropolitan Police has submitted its full case files to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), marking a major milestone in the nine-year investigation into the disaster. The files concern 20 companies and organisations and 54 individuals, with prosecutors now responsible for deciding whether there is sufficient evidence to bring charges.

The charges being considered include corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, health and safety offences, fraud and fraud related offences, and misconduct in public office. The Grenfell Tower fire broke out in the 24-storey residential block in North Kensington on 14 June 2017. Seventy two people died and more than 70 others were injured.

The police investigation has been one of the largest and most complex in British law enforcement. Investigators have examined the roles of more than 15,000 people and 700 organisations, collected 14,700 witness statements and gathered more than 27,000 exhibits, including parts of the building such as cladding, insulation, windows and doors.

The investigation follows the findings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, whose final report in 2024 identified failures involving government bodies, regulators, companies involved in the tower’s refurbishment and organisations responsible for managing the building. The inquiry found that combustible cladding played a central role in the rapid spread of the fire. However, the inquiry itself could not determine criminal liability. That responsibility now rests with the police and prosecutors.

The CPS has said its charging decisions will be made independently after a detailed review of the evidence. Prosecutors have committed to reaching decisions before the 10th anniversary of the fire on 14 June 2027. The Metropolitan Police described the submission as a milestone after years of investigation, while acknowledging the frustration of bereaved families and survivors who have waited for answers.

The force said a team of around 220 investigators had worked to ensure the evidence presented to prosecutors was as comprehensive as possible. For the families of those who died and survivors of the fire, the submission represents another significant stage in a process that has lasted almost a decade. But no individual or company has been charged as a result of this latest development, and the CPS must first determine whether criminal proceedings should follow.