Grenfell inquiry will have human rights focus

A review of the Grenfell Tower disaster by Britain’s official equality watchdog will scrutinise possible Government and council failings under human rights and equality law, it has been announced.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) pledged to ensure any critical shortcomings by authorities both before and after the deadly fire were not “overlooked”.

Its intervention almost six months on from the tragedy, which left 71 people dead in June, came amid concerns the separate, judge-led public inquiry would neglect human rights issues.

Seven areas of legislation will form the focus of the work, which is expected to conclude by April and will result in the publication of a report, called “Following Grenfell”. It will also make recommendations in the hopes that similar tragedies could be prevented.