Bereaved families and survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire have sharply criticized the public inquiry, calling it a “seven-year delay to justice” on the day the final report was released.
The inquiry, which investigated the 2017 fire at Grenfell Tower in London, blamed multiple parties for the disaster that claimed 72 lives, including government bodies, construction firms, and fire safety experts.
Karim Khalloufi, a Moroccan man whose sister Khadija died in the fire, expressed frustration, stating, “No one has asked me if I wanted this inquiry,” and criticized the delay in achieving justice for victims’ families.
The inquiry, announced by then-Prime Minister Theresa May on June 15, 2017, was intended to uncover the causes of the fire but has been accused of hindering the start of criminal proceedings.
Hisam Choucair, who lost six family members, described the inquiry as a forced process and expressed distress over witnesses laughing while giving evidence, which he found deeply upsetting.
Grenfell survivor Francis Dean also condemned the “seven-year delay to justice,” expressing personal trauma and frustration at the unfulfilled promises of the government for justice.
Another victim’s relative insisted on criminal prosecution for manslaughter, emphasizing that only such charges would deliver the necessary accountability.
The Metropolitan Police has pledged to review the inquiry report “line by line,” but the bereaved and survivors are facing a lengthy wait for any potential criminal charges.
The Crown Prosecution Service has indicated that decisions regarding criminal prosecutions will not be expected until at least 2026, extending the wait for justice.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stressed the need for “full accountability” through the criminal justice system and called for action to be taken “as swiftly as possible.”
Sir Martin Moore-Bick, chair of the inquiry, concluded that the deaths were “avoidable” and that the residents of Grenfell Tower were “badly failed” by those responsible for ensuring their safety.