It’s been split into two phases: Phase 1 focused specifically on how the night of the fire unfolded. That phase reported back in 2019 and warned about the “apparently slow rate of progress” in removing combustible cladding, as well as making a host of recommendations for improving building safety and better coordinating emergency responses.
Phase 2 is more wide-ranging and is expected to be highly technical, delving into the specifics of the tower’s refurbishment, the cladding used and the response of key institutions involved. The Fire Brigades Union, a core participant in the inquiry, has said it expects the report to come in at more than 1,500 pages, spanning several volumes.
More than 600 core participants took part in the inquiry and they have given eye-opening evidence. In 2022, the government admitted failing to provide sufficient oversight of the regulatory system that could have prevented the fire. Residents spoke out about “sub-citizen” treatment at the hands of the state landlord.
Who has been held to account so far?
Kensington and Chelsea Council leader Nick Paget-Brown resigned in the aftermath of the blaze following widespread criticism. Theresa May was also slammed for initially not meeting survivors and locals, later admitting her response was “not good enough.”
Nineteen companies or organizations and 58 individuals are currently under investigation over the fire. However, the Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service said no charges are likely to be announced until late 2026 due to the increasing “scale and complexity” of their investigation.
The inquiry’s job is not to chase prosecutions. But the information it unearths can be used to assist the police inquiry.
