The Guardian view on Grenfell prosecutions: court dates cannot come soon enough
Survivors are right to be angry at the nine years taken to reach this point. Those to blame for the fire must face justice
TL;DR
- Survivors and supporters are marking nine years since the Grenfell Tower fire, with anger over the slow progress towards justice.
- Police have recommended charges against 77 individuals and organizations, but criminal trials are not expected until 2028 at the earliest.
- A public inquiry identified blame with multiple public and private bodies, including construction firms, central government, the local council, architects, contractors, and the fire brigade.
- Survivors' groups have expressed shattered confidence and impatience with the lengthy delays.
- The complexity of the investigation is cited as a reason for the delay, but the protracted process has increased suffering.
- While civil suits have been settled and building regulations are being updated, frustration remains over the pace of change and weak laws.
- Some firms responsible for the fire continue to win public contracts, causing further distress to survivors.