Met Police sends files on 54 people and 20 organisations to Cps for charging decisions

By Lucy Caulkett-

The Metropolitan Police has submitted the full criminal investigation file into the Grenfell Tower fire to the Crown Prosecution Service, marking a major milestone in the investigation into the disaster that claimed 72 lives.

Nine years after the blaze tore through the west London tower block, the Met has formally handed the CPS 20 files concerning 20 companies and organisations and 54 individuals.

Investigators have looked at the role of more than 15,000 people and 700 organisations as part of the mammoth inquiry, and have submitted 12,600 pages of evidence to the CPS.

A total of 14,700 statements have been taken and more than 27,000 exhibits, including cladding, insulation, doors, windows and other parts of the building, down to screws, nuts and bolts, are stored in a secure warehouse.

Prosecutors will now consider whether there is sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges, including corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, health and safety offences, fraud and fraud-related offences, and misconduct in public office.

The CPS has committed to reaching its charging decisions before the 10th anniversary of the fire in June 2027, placing the next stage of the long-running investigation firmly in the hands of prosecutors.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Kevin Southworth described the submission as a significant moment in an investigation that has involved an extraordinary volume of evidence.

He said the 220-strong investigation team had worked to meet its commitment to bereaved families, survivors, residents and others affected by the tragedy, while acknowledging the frustration caused by the length of time taken to reach this point.

The scale of the investigation is reflected in the evidence assembled by detectives. Police say they examined the involvement of more than 15,000 individuals and 700 organisations connected to Grenfell Tower before narrowing their criminal investigation to 54 individuals and 20 organisations in relation to the offences now being considered by the CPS.

The material submitted to prosecutors extends well beyond the 20 individual case files. The Met has also provided 14 overarching evidence files, while its summary reports alone run to more than four million words across 12,600 pages and refer to more than 45,000 documents, images and exhibits.

Investigators have worked in close consultation with the CPS throughout the inquiry, seeking guidance as the evidence was gathered and analysed. That liaison is expected to continue as prosecutors assess the material and determine whether criminal charges should follow.

The investigation began in the immediate aftermath of the fire with a painstaking recovery and identification operation. Police searched every flat and communal area inside Grenfell Tower, conducting a forensic fingertip search of the building and examining approximately 15 tonnes of debris on each floor. The tower remained under police control as a crime scene for 14 months.

The inquiry has also involved an enormous digital investigation. Detectives gathered 165 million electronic files for examination, while 14,700 witness statements were taken during the course of the investigation.

Thousands of physical exhibits remain preserved as potential evidence, including cladding, insulation, doors, windows and other components of the building. In total, more than 27,000 exhibits, ranging from major building materials to individual screws, nuts and bolts, are being held in a secure warehouse.

Investigators have also examined the work of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in detail. Its 1,700-page final report was cross-referenced against the police investigation as detectives sought to identify and obtain evidence relevant to the potential criminal offences.

The submission does not mean that anyone has been charged, and the Met has stressed that it is not pre-empting the decisions of the CPS. The prosecutors must now assess the evidence and determine whether the legal threshold for charges has been met in relation to the individuals and organisations referred to them.

The submission represents the end of one extraordinary phase of the investigation and the beginning of another. After years of evidence gathering, forensic examination and scrutiny of thousands of people and organisations connected to Grenfell Tower, responsibility for deciding whether criminal proceedings should be brought now moves to the CPS.

The Met said it is already working with criminal justice partners on the next stages while continuing to support the families and survivors as the charging process progresses. The force has also launched a dedicated Grenfell Tower investigation website to provide updates to those affected by the tragedy.