By James Simons-
Survivors of the Greenfell Fire tragedy that killed at least 80 people are angry with police that no arrests have been made.
At a meeting with Dr. Fiona Wilcox on Tuesday at the Olympia conference center in West Kensington, many survivors still appeared to be freshly distraught. They have many unanswered questions about those still missing from the fire.
Police have said the final death toll will not be clear before the end of the year. Nearly a month after the fire that horrified the nation, there are still individuals who have heard nothing about their loved ones who lived in the doomed tower block of flats.
And at the meeting called at short notice, surviving residents of the Greenfell fire were prevented from directly asking questions to police chief, Stuart Cundy, but instead to email their questions and wait for a response.
In particular, there was anger over the fact the police are yet to make any arrests since the fire, despite the offer of temporary accommodation to all the victims of the fire. Police chiefs have been investigating the case since last month, but seem to be operating carefully in terms of criminal action.
There is no known voluntary action to have started the deadly fire. Police have been considering the case closely and consulting at different levels in their ongoing investigation. However, the lack of any arrests has gone down like a kick in the teeth to surviving victims.
The eye of media.com has heard that many fear that a cover up will prevent any prosecutions from taking place. The initial words of Sir Martin Moore Bick to keep the scope of the investigation narrow is still making people angry.
Lawyers representing families for the victims believe the lines of inquiry he intends to follow is not strong or efficient enough. Manslaughter charges are very serious, and even with emotions running high, legal people will be aware of the need to apply the law properly to avoid being exposed by defense lawyers.
Bick himself may secretly find manslaughter charges to be difficult to apply in these circumstances, but lawyers who believe they can apply it should be allowed to try.
Arrests in a case like this does not have to be linked to manslaughter when other potential criminal charges could be made. Contractors who cut corners to save and pocket money have surely committed some criminal offence.
One of those contractors is allegedly being investigated for fraud, but the delay and silence has made some conclude that lives may have been lost in vain. All those made homeless have been offered accommodation, but dissatisfied former residents remain in hotels.