Official Statement from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government

Angela Rayner, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, has expressed her deepest sympathies for the bereaved families, survivors, and the immediate community affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy. In June 2017, the devastating incident claimed 72 innocent lives, and those impacted have been awaiting this crucial step towards justice for over nine years. Rayner commended the Grenfell community for their dignity, persistence, and bravery in their relentless pursuit of justice and answers.

The Secretary acknowledged the government’s failure in its primary responsibility to ensure the safety of Grenfell Tower residents, highlighting that lives were lost due to significant shortcomings in the building safety system. In a heartfelt statement, she expressed her sorrow on behalf of the British state.

Progress in the Investigation

In a significant development, the Metropolitan Police Service has announced that it has submitted case files to the Crown Prosecution Service, marking an important milestone in the ongoing investigation. Operation Northleigh has been carried out independently of governmental oversight, and it is essential that the independent criminal justice process now proceeds unimpeded.

In 2023, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government was informed by the Metropolitan Police that it was under investigation. The department has been fully cooperative throughout this period. To safeguard the integrity of the investigation, details regarding the inquiry, including its own status as a subject, had not been disclosed publicly until now.

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that a file concerning the Ministry has been referred to the Crown Prosecution Service for a thorough and independent review of the evidence. This review will assess whether the necessary criteria for a potential breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 have been met.

Commitment to Change

Rayner acknowledged the seriousness of this development and assured that the government would respond with the utmost diligence and care. The Crown Prosecution Service will take the lead in the subsequent steps, and the government will continue to offer its full cooperation during this next phase of the process.

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry has revealed critical failures within the building safety framework. As Secretary of State, Rayner understands that rebuilding trust will require consistent action and visible transformations. She pledged to ensure that the lessons learned from the Inquiry will instigate genuine and lasting changes in government policies, aiming to provide safe housing for citizens across the nation and prevent a similar tragedy from occurring in the future.