Grenfell Tower Investigation: What the Latest Development Means for Individuals and Organisations Under Investigation

Grenfell Tower Investigation: What the Latest Development Means for Individuals and Organisations Under Investigation

Following its nine-year criminal investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire, the Metropolitan Police has announced that it has submitted files to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration.

The files relate to 54 individuals and 20 companies and organisations. The police have asked the CPS to consider a range of serious offences, including corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, health and safety offences, fraud and fraud-related offences, and misconduct in public office. The CPS has said it expects to make charging decisions before the tenth anniversary of the fire in June 2027.

The scale of the case illustrates the complexity of serious corporate and individual criminal investigations. According to the Met, investigators examined the roles of more than 15,000 individuals and 700 organisations, gathered approximately 165 million electronic files, and took 14,700 witness statements.

This development follows the publication of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Phase 2 report in September 2024. The Inquiry examined the circumstances and causes of the fire. The criminal investigation has considered whether offences may have been committed and whether the evidence is sufficient to support prosecutions.

Although the circumstances and scale of the Grenfell investigation are exceptional, there remains options open to suspects before any charging decisions are made.

The importance of early specialist legal advice

For anyone who becomes the subject of a serious or complex criminal investigation, the period before any charging decision is made can be critically important.

Investigations of this nature can involve years of evidence gathering, multiple suspects, extensive digital material, expert evidence and large volumes of documentation. A suspect may have to be re- interviewed under caution before prosecutors are able to reach a final decision on whether charges should be brought.

Our defence solicitors have substantial experience advising and assisting suspects in serious and complex criminal investigations. We understand the importance of engaging with investigators at an early stage and developing a clear strategy before a charging decision is made.

This can include advice and representation in relation to:

• interviews under caution;
• requests for further information or evidence;
• complex documentary and digital evidence;
• expert evidence and technical issues;
• allegations involving corporate or individual criminal liability;
• communications and representations to investigators and prosecutors; and
• pre-charge engagement (PCE) with the police and CPS.

Pre-charge engagement

Pre-charge engagement can be particularly important in large and complex investigations.

CPS guidance expressly recognises that early defence engagement can be valuable in serious and complex cases. It may help identify further reasonable lines of enquiry, inform a prosecutor’s charging decision and narrow the issues in dispute.

Pre-charge engagement is not simply a matter of waiting for an investigation to conclude. Where appropriate, the defence may engage constructively with investigators and prosecutors so that relevant issues are identified, and the suspect’s position is properly understood before a charging decision is made.

The precise approach will depend upon the circumstances of the investigation. It may involve written representations, providing or identifying relevant material, addressing evidential or legal issues, responding to matters raised by investigators, or identifying further enquiries that may be relevant to the charging decision.

Serious investigations require serious preparation

Being investigated for a serious offence can have significant consequences for an individual, a company director, a professional or an organisation, even before a charge is brought. Early specialist advice can help the defence understand the allegations, assess the available evidence, identify potential legal and evidential issues, and develop an appropriate strategy from the outset.

Our team at Sonn Macmillan Walker solicitors regularly advises clients facing serious and complex investigations and understands the particular challenges presented by investigations involving multiple parties, substantial evidence and potential corporate and individual liability. If you or your organisation is under investigation for a serious criminal offence, early legal advice can be crucial.

Please contact Daniel Cavaglieri for confidential advice and representation, including assistance with pre-charge engagement with investigators and prosecutors.