Police question fire chiefs over Grenfell blaze

FIRE chiefs have been interviewed under caution by police investigating the Grenfell Tower fire, it emerged yesterday.

London Fire Brigade said it has been questioned as a corporate body over possible breaches of health and safety regulations.

The service has faced widespread criticism for its controversial ‘stay put’ policy, which meant residents were told to stay inside their flats and wait for rescue as the inferno raged.

Fire bosses have defended the stance, saying a mass evacuation of the 24storey block in June 2017 would have risked more lives.

It is thought that up to 55 of the 72 people who died were told to stay in flats for almost two hours after the first 999 call, despite flames spreading with terrifying speed through flammable cladding.

Many survivors and bereaved families believe all the residents of the tower, in North Kensington, west London, could have survived if fire brigade operators had instructed them to evacuate earlier.

London Fire Commissioner Dany Cotton said she recognised that survivors and the bereaved ‘need answers’.

She said: ‘We have always been subject to the Metropolitan Police investigation and I want to ensure it is accurately and publicly known the brigade has now, voluntarily, given an interview under caution in relation to the Health and Safety at Work Act.

‘As the fire and rescue service attending the Grenfell Tower fire it is entirely correct that we are part of the investigation.’

Hundreds of firefighters and control staff have already provided voluntary interviews to the Scotland Yard investigation team.

The Metropolitan Police revealed yesterday that it has carried out 17 interviews under caution in connection with the criminal investigation into the fire. The force would not reveal who the interviews were with.

A spokesman said the interviews are in connection with possible crimes of gross negligence manslaughter, corporate manslaughter and health and safety offences. Earlier this year, a police chief, Commander Stuart Cundy, said 180 officers were working on the evidence, but admitted he could not promise bereaved families that anyone will face criminal charges.

Police will not consider sending any files to the Crown Prosecution Service until at least 2021 when the public inquiry into the tragedy is expected to finish. This means the earliest date for a trial would be 2022.

A report into the first part of the public inquiry is expected to be published next month.