Fraudsters accused of inflating Grenfell death toll

THE death toll from Grenfell Tower may fall because some of those missing have been invented by fraudsters, the police have said.

Eight people have either been charged or are under investigation for fraud in relation to the inferno that ripped through the west London tower block in June, with some making up claims that their loved ones died.

Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy said that 60 people who lost their lives had now been formally identified and, though searches remain ongoing, he expects the death toll to fall slightly from 80. Det Supt Fiona Mccormack said that of those people who had been reported missing, some had been found safe and well but “some were fraudulent”. She added: “There are eight cases of fraud that the Met Police are dealing with at the moment.”

Two have been charged, one is on bail and the others are under investigation but all are believed to have “claimed benefit”, she said. “They are people who are reporting to have been in the tower block on the night of the fire and have tried to claim or have claimed money as a result,” she added.

Commander Cundy added that the “frauds have had an impact” on the fact that they believe the death toll will fall.

Officers also revealed that there have been suspected thefts from four of the flats on the lower floors, which were not destroyed by fire. While some of the items may have already been put into storage by the company that has been contracted to carry out the work by the Kensington and Chelsea council, police have confirmed that a large quantity of cash was stolen from one flat.

The block is under 24-hour guard with an outer cordon manned by police and an inner cordon manned by security. Det Supt Mccormack said that the thefts had been noticed as residents returned to collect items of sentimental value, adding: “I cannot explain to you the devastation that every police officer and every specialist working at Grenfell Tower feels about that.

“I thought 24/7 security would be sufficient and it hasn’t been and I am terribly sorry about that. We have increased security.”

Det Chief Insp Matt Bonner also revealed for the first time that the Met is conducting a criminal investigation into the emergency response to the fire after concerns had been raised by the families of the bereaved, some of whom had been told by the fire service to stay inside their properties as the blaze raged.

Other strands of the investigation are the block’s construction, the cladding refurbishment and management of the property.

Potential criminal charges could be brought for fraud, misconduct, health and safety breaches, breaches of fire safety regulations and both individual and corporate manslaughter.