Detectives investigating the Grenfell Tower fire have “reasonable grounds” to suspect that corporate manslaughter offences may have been committed..

 

In a letter to residents, Scotland Yard has said that senior figures from Kensington and Chelsea Council and the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation faced being interviewed by police.

 

Here is the letter Grenfell Tower residents received telling them about the developing investigation concerning RBKC and KCTMO pic.twitter.com/krWbKR7nxO

— Jack Hardy (@JackHardy9) July 27, 2017

 

The letter says: “We have seized a huge amount of material and taken a large number of witness statements."

 

"The officer leading the investigation has now notified Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation that there each organisation may have committed the offence of corporate manslaughter under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007.”

 

 

“This interview will not happen immediately, since it is important that all facts and information are gathered before any such interview is conducted.”

 

The force added “The content of this note should not be taken to conclude that the identified offences and organisations are the only offences, organisations or individuals that are being investigated.”

 

The Metropolitan Police said it was committed to keeping those affected by the fire updated on the investigation.

 

Kensington and Chelsea Council leader Nicholas Paget-Brown and his deputy Rock Feilding-Mellen resigned during fierce criticism of the council’s response to the disaster.

 

Newly elected council leader Elizabeth Campbell said: “Our residents deserve answers about the Grenfell Tower fire and the police investigation will provide these.

 

 

Joe Delany, who lives in a block adjoining the tower and has worked with the Grenfell Action Group, told the Press Association: “I think everyone has more cautious scepticism than cautious optimism, it’s one thing to announce this investigation is going on – which is totally different from a prosecution being brought, which is completely different to a conviction being achieved.

 

“Also, one thing we have never seen in this country are individuals prosecuted under corporate manslaughter because it is always hard to find the controlling mind.

 

“I do hope that this case would prove to be the exception, rather than the rule.”