Grenfell Report: has justice been served?

Whilst most of the UK were bickering over Brexit or preparing for Halloween celebrations, Wednesday 30^th October saw the release of the Grenfell report – the first phase of a review into one of the most decade-defining events of modern Britain. Two years after the disaster, the police are still yet to prosecute, leaving the public to question- who can we hold accountable? And with the release of this new report, will Grenfell’s victims finally receive the justice they deserve?

Two years after the disaster, the police are still yet to prosecute, leaving the public to question- who can we hold accountable?

The inquiry, led by chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick, examined what occurred on the night of the 14^th June 2017. Although a faulty fridge-freezer on the fourth floor was identified as the source of the flames, what, or who, was responsible for the fire’s rapid development and the seventy-two deaths that followed is a far more complex web – one that the report will likely need many more phases to unravel

It’s not that there aren’t enough people to blame; instead, there are far too many fingers to point. A crucial element in the development of the blaze – advancing from a contained fire to London’s greatest loss of life since WW2 within a matter of hours – was the response of the National Fire Board. Not to be confused with the on-sight fire brigade (who were instead praised by Moore-Bick in his report), the NFB were accused of ‘significant systemic failings’. These ranged from a lack of a contingency plan to poor or even non-existent training for both firemen and control room staff.

Their most controversial error was the use of the ‘stay-put strategy’. This plan, put in place with the idea that buildings are designed to protect their inhabitants from fire, has been claimed by many survivors as instrumental to the tower’s destruction – despite the strategy being common procedure for fire departments. Although the report called for a review of more general policies towards fire safety, the contentious strategy looks set to stay – much to survivors such as Natasha Elcock’s dismay, who was one of many who called for the removal of the ‘defunct policy’.

Although some justice has been rewarded to the victims through the release of the report, whether this will result in real, institutional change is another issue. Whilst the NFB confirmed their aim to ‘learn and prevent such a tragedy ever happening again’ in a press statement, chairwoman Dany Cotton has been criticised for her insensitive comments. She stated she would have ‘changed nothing about the response’- despite the seventy-two deaths that many place in her hands. With lead figures in fire safety refusing to accept culpability for their actions and potentially dangerous fire regulations remaining unchanged, the report has been so far unsuccessful in bringing about justice – at least in terms of fire safety.

Chairwoman Dany Cotton stated she would have ‘changed nothing about the response’- despite the seventy-two deaths that many place in her hands

Whilst the NFB’s ill-handled response played a significant role in the disaster, those behind the apartment block’s construction must also come under scrutiny. The report highlighted the various faults within the building’s structure, including ‘combustible aluminium panels’ and an ‘architectural crown’. The tower also had no sprinklers. Prioritising aesthetic aspects over actual safety features is another reason the Grenfell disaster is becoming increasingly politicised; had the tower not been located in Kensington and Chelsea- one of the richest areas in the country-, these compounding features may have not been added in the first place.

Considering the history of disastrous consequences arising from contractors failing to meet safety requirements- such as the Lakanal House fire of 2013 – we can only wait with bated breath for the housing companies to receive the ramifications they rightfully deserve. However, with the government recently placing, and hastily removing, Rydon, the firm responsible for Grenfell’s doomed refurbishment, onto their list of approved contractors, whether these companies will be ever brought to justice is looking increasingly less hopeful.

With so many players responsible, it is becoming increasingly unlikely that the victims of Grenfell will receive any legal justice in the foreseeable future. Instead, the London community is the only group offering any form of real, substantial change. One of the most important of these groups is Grenfell United, an organisation formed by and for the survivors of the tragedy. Their fears that we are ‘at risk of not learning lessons’ from the event is becoming increasingly valid; only a few days after the report’s release, Leader of the House Jacob Rees Mogg claimed those who followed the stay-put policy lacked ‘common-sense’- despite it being the legal requirement for them to do so.

With so many players responsible, it is becoming increasingly unlikely that the victims of Grenfell will receive any legal justice in the foreseeable future

Boris Johnson, whilst giving a more heartfelt response than his fellow minister, also revealed limitations in the ‘action’ he promised ‘will follow’ the report; it will only come after the December general election. The victims of Grenfell are becoming yet another group pushed to the bottom of the administrative pile.

Whilst the first phase of the Grenfell Report is yet to be revolutionary, we can hope that the second phase- which will review why the fire happened through the authority response and building materials – will offer a more substantial conclusion. Despite this, Moore-Bick did offer a variety of recommendations that we can hope will be taken on board in the near future.

For now, however, victims of the tragedy are still left to clear up the mess various authorities and corporations have left in their wake. Grenfell United, although labelling the report ‘strong’, are bringing a more powerful form of justice; community change. Representing hundreds of survivors, the committee have achieved in providing victims hotel rooms days after the blaze to confronting politicians on their lack of response in public meetings. The justices may be far and few between, but these local groups are bringing about the change our government is failing to ignite. We can only hope that, once we finally receive our answers, the names of those responsible will be blackened as dark as the homes they helped ruin.