Up to 57 people could be charged over Grenfell Tower fire as police reveal timeline

Police will confirm who is being charged over the Grenfell Tower fire by the 10th anniversary of the disaster, it was revealed today.

The inferno was the UK's deadliest residential fire since the Second World War.

Seventy-two people were killed when the blaze ravaged the north Kensington building on 14 June 2017.

At Scotland Yard today, the Metropolitan Police said up to 57 individuals and 20 organisations are so far suspected of criminal offences. One person was arrested and released under investigation, and others have been questioned under caution but not arrested.

Potential charges include corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, fraud, serious health and safety offences and misconduct in public office.

The final charging decisions will be revealed by 14 June 2027 - exactly a decade on from the fire.

Grenfell Tower is the largest and most complex investigation in the history of the Metropolitan Police.

The force has spent £150m so far, combing through millions of records and taking thousands of statements.

Any criminal trials are unlikely to take place before 2029, but police are preparing by building a smaller replica of Grenfell Tower to show potential future juries how the fire spread.

The original building can no longer be used as it has been partially deconstructed.

This replica has cost the force £2m. Police would not reveal where it is being built or how big it will be.

In 2024, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry concluded that opportunities were missed to prevent the blaze, and commercial interests had been prioritised over fire safety.

Cladding was at the heart of the inquiry

The tower was built with combustible materials, which allowed the fire to quickly spread through its 24 storeys.

The Metropolitan Police have so far submitted 15 early investigation advice files to the Crown Prosecution Service, and say 30 September this year is their deadline for submitting the remainder.

They said today that the fact that an inquiry was held first had slowed down the pace of their criminal investigation.

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A spokesman for Grenfell United, which represents some of the families bereaved by the disaster and survivors, called for no further delay.

The group said: "Today's update from the Metropolitan Police marks an important step in a process that has already taken far too long.

"Nearly 10 years after the Grenfell Tower fire claimed the lives of 72 people, bereaved families, survivors and residents are being told that files will begin to be passed to the Crown Prosecution Service in September 2026, with charging decisions expected before the tenth anniversary.

"For our community, this is not news we meet with celebration. We meet it with caution, grief and determination. We have waited almost a decade for accountability.

"No family should have to wait over 10 years for justice for their loved ones, if it comes at all.

"The final report of the Grenfell Inquiry laid bare the shocking failures, dishonesty and disregard for human life that led to the fire. Grenfell was not a tragedy without cause.

"Those responsible must now be held to account.

"But after waiting nearly 10 years, our community cannot be expected to endure years more of delay.

"The Ministry of Justice and the Government must ensure the courts are properly resourced so that any prosecutions linked to Grenfell are heard swiftly.

"Justice delayed any further would be unacceptable."

(c) Sky News 2026: Up to 57 people could be charged over Grenfell Tower fire as police reveal timeline