The Met has submitted all files to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to allow them to make charging decisions in relation to the Grenfell Tower fire.

The 20 files relate to 20 companies and organisations and 54 individuals. The CPS has been asked to consider 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 making the charging decisions before the 10^th anniversary of the fire in June 2027.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Kevin Southworth said: “This is a milestone moment in the police investigation into this devastating tragedy which took the lives of 72 people.

“Our dedicated team of 220 investigators has worked incredibly hard to honour our commitment to the bereaved, survivors, residents and all those affected by the fire to meet this timescale.

“We appreciate, of course, it has taken nine years to get to this point. As we have said before, this is one of the most complex investigations ever undertaken by any UK law enforcement agency – the scale is truly enormous.

“While we know this has had a significant impact on those waiting for answers, it has necessarily taken this long to ensure our investigation is meticulous and presents the very best possible evidence to the CPS for charging decisions.”

The police investigation has included:

• The role of more than 15,000 individuals and 700 organisations involved in Grenfell Tower has been examined. Careful gathering and analysis of the evidence has then led to 54 people and 20 organisations being identified as suspects for the criminal offences referred to the CPS

• As well as the 20 files, the submission to the CPS also includes 14 overarching evidence files. The word count of the Met’s summary reports alone to the CPS exceeds four million over 12,600 pages, referencing more than 45,000 documents, images and exhibits
• The investigation team has been in close liaison with the CPS throughout the investigation to obtain guidance and advice in order to submit the best possible evidence to enable them to reach charging decisions. This will continue
• The police response to the fire began with a recovery operation to find, recover and identify all those who died. Every single flat and communal area was thoroughly and meticulously searched. This included a full forensic fingertip search, with police officers and forensic experts examining approximately 15 tonnes of debris on each floor

• Grenfell Tower was held by police as a crime scene for 14 months

• Over the course of the police investigation, 165 million electronic files have been gathered to meticulously search for evidence

• Investigators also examined in detail the work of the public inquiry, including the 1,700 pages of the final report, to cross reference against the police investigation and ensure they had obtained every possible piece of evidence

• A total of 14,700 statements have been taken

• More than 27,000 exhibits, including cladding, insulation, doors, windows and other parts of the building, down to screws, nut and bolts, remain stored in a secure warehouse.

While in no way pre-empting the CPS’s decisions, the Met says it is working with criminal justice partners on the next stages to ensure the Grenfell families and survivors are supported as well as possible.

The Met has launched a Grenfell Tower investigation website to keep all those affected updated, here.

In a statement, Grenfell United, which represents some bereaved families and survivors, said: “We expect the Met and the CPS to do everything in their power to make sure this case moves forward without further unnecessary delay. Our families have waited long enough. We want those responsible to face justice.

“If people are found guilty of crimes that cost our loved ones their lives, we want to see them behind bars. Only then will people see that there are real consequences for what happened at Grenfell. No family should have to fight this hard, for this long, for justice.”

Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government, said: “Today, my thoughts are first and foremost with the bereaved families, survivors and immediate Grenfell community. 72 innocent lives were lost in the Grenfell Tower tragedy of June 2017, and those most affected have been waiting more than nine years for this next step towards justice. I pay tribute to the dignity, persistence and courage of the Grenfell community, and their campaign for justice and answers.

“The government failed in its fundamental duty to keep the residents of Grenfell Tower safe. Lives were lost as a consequence of profound failures within the building safety system. On behalf of the British state, I am sorry.

“The Metropolitan Police Service has today announced it has handed case files to the Crown Prosecution Service. This marks an important step. Operation Northleigh has been conducted independently of government. And it is right that the independent criminal justice process now takes its course.

“The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government was notified in 2023 by the Metropolitan Police that it was under investigation. The department cooperated fully throughout. In order to protect the integrity of the investigation, the department has not until now discussed publicly the detail of the investigation, including its own status as a subject of it.

“The Metropolitan Police has today confirmed to the department that a file relating to MHCLG has been referred to the Crown Prosecution Service to conduct a full and independent review of the evidence to determine whether the evidential requirements in relation to a potential breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 have been reached.

“I recognise the significance and gravity of this development, and we will respond with the appropriate and necessary diligence and care. The CPS will lead on the next steps and the government will continue to cooperate fully in the next stage of this process.

“The Grenfell Tower Inquiry exposed profound failures in the building safety system. As secretary of state, I recognise that confidence will only be rebuilt through sustained action and visible change. I will ensure that the lessons from the Inquiry drive real and lasting change in how government works and provides safe homes for people across the country to ensure a tragedy like Grenfell can never happen again.”