London Fire Brigade becomes third organisation considered for Grenfell charges

Key Points

• The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has confirmed that the Metropolitan Police has submitted a file concerning the brigade to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
• LFB is the third organisation publicly identified as being among 20 organisations assessed in connection with possible criminal offences following the Grenfell Tower fire.
• The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) previously confirmed that files concerning them had also been sent to the CPS.
• The Grenfell Tower fire killed 72 people in west London in June 2017.
• The Metropolitan Police said it examined the roles of more than 15,000 people and 700 organisations during the investigation.
• Police submitted 20 files concerning 20 organisations and 54 individuals to the CPS for charging decisions.
• Offences being considered include corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, health and safety offences, fraud and fraud-related offences, and misconduct in public office.
• The CPS has committed to making charging decisions before the 10th anniversary of the fire in June 2027.
• LFB Commissioner Jonathan Smith said the brigade had accepted the findings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and implemented recommendations from both phases of the inquiry.
• Grenfell United has called for the criminal justice process to proceed without further unnecessary delay.
• Any potential trials are not expected to begin before 2029, according to the Metropolitan Police’s current assessment.
• The development comes shortly after Grenfell United raised concerns about the permanent appointment of former RBKC housing director Laura Johnson to a senior property role at the Barnet Group.

The Londoner News (TLN) October 2, 2026 – The London Fire Brigade has confirmed that the Metropolitan Police has submitted a file concerning the organisation to the Crown Prosecution Service as part of the criminal investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire. The disclosure makes the brigade the third organisation publicly known to have been referred to prosecutors among 20 organisations being assessed for possible criminal offences following the disaster, which killed 72 people in west London in June 2017. The CPS will now examine the evidence before deciding whether any charges should be brought.

The disclosure follows the Metropolitan Police’s confirmation on September 30 that it had completed the submission of its Grenfell investigation files to the CPS. The police said the material relates to 20 companies and organisations and 54 individuals. The CPS has committed to making charging decisions before the 10th anniversary of the fire in June 2027.

The LFB said its fire commissioner was notified by police that a file had been submitted. The brigade has not disclosed which specific offences it is being considered for.

What has the London Fire Brigade confirmed about the Grenfell investigation?

According to Grainne Cuffe of Inside Housing, the LFB confirmed on Thursday that a police file concerning the brigade had been passed to the CPS. The report identified the LFB as the third organisation publicly revealed from the wider group of 20 organisations being assessed following the Grenfell Tower fire.

The confirmation does not mean that the LFB has been charged with a criminal offence. The file has been submitted for consideration by prosecutors, who must assess the evidence and apply the relevant legal tests before deciding whether proceedings should follow.

The distinction is significant because the Metropolitan Police has identified organisations and individuals as suspects in its investigation, while charging decisions remain the responsibility of the CPS.

The police said the offences being referred for consideration across the investigation include corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, health and safety offences, fraud and fraud-related offences, and misconduct in public office. The exact offences applicable to the LFB have not been publicly identified.

Jonathan Smith, London fire commissioner, said the brigade continued to remember the 72 people who died and those whose lives were changed by the fire.

As reported by Grainne Cuffe of Inside Housing, Smith said the LFB had accepted the findings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and had implemented recommendations from both phases. He also said the brigade continued to work with government and the wider fire and rescue sector to ensure lessons from the tragedy informed its work.

Why has the CPS received files concerning 20 organisations?

The Metropolitan Police has described the investigation as one of the most complex undertaken by a UK law enforcement agency.

In its September 30 statement, the force said investigators had examined the roles of more than 15,000 people and 700 organisations connected with Grenfell Tower. Following the investigation, 54 individuals and 20 organisations were identified as suspects for the criminal offences referred to the CPS.

The police said its submission consisted of 20 files relating to the organisations and individuals, together with 14 overarching evidence files. The summary reports prepared for prosecutors exceed four million words across more than 12,600 pages and refer to more than 45,000 documents, images and exhibits.

The scale of the evidence reflects the number of organisations and people whose actions or responsibilities had to be examined during the investigation.

The force previously said in May that its investigation team had grown to 220 investigators. At that stage, 15 of the 20 files had already been submitted to the CPS, with the remaining material expected by the end of September.

The Metropolitan Police subsequently confirmed that the complete set of files had been submitted on September 30, meeting that timetable.

Which other organisations have been publicly identified?

Before the LFB confirmation, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government had publicly confirmed that police files concerning them had been passed to the CPS.

James Wilmore of Inside Housing reported on September 30 that RBKC had been referred to the CPS over three alleged offences: corporate manslaughter, an offence under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and an offence under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

The CPS will assess the evidence supplied by police before determining whether the legal threshold for prosecution is met.

RBKC leader Elizabeth Campbell described the referral as a significant moment for bereaved families, survivors, residents and others affected by Grenfell. The council said it had co-operated with both the Metropolitan Police investigation and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and would continue providing information or assistance requested during the criminal process.

Separately, housing secretary Angela Rayner confirmed that a file concerning MHCLG had also been submitted. According to Inside Housing, the CPS will examine whether there is evidence of a potential breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Rayner said the department had been told by the Metropolitan Police in 2023 that it was under investigation. She said the department had co-operated with the investigation but had not previously disclosed its status in order to protect the integrity of the process.

Rayner also apologised on behalf of the British state, saying the government had failed in its fundamental duty to keep Grenfell Tower residents safe and referring to failures within the building safety system.

What offences is the Metropolitan Police asking the CPS to consider?

The Metropolitan Police said the CPS had been asked to consider a range of offences across the Grenfell investigation.

These include corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, health and safety offences, fraud and fraud-related offences, and misconduct in public office. The list applies to the wider investigation and does not establish that each organisation or individual is being considered for every offence.

The CPS’s role at this stage is to examine the evidence and determine whether criminal charges are justified under the applicable legal test.

The CPS explains that a charging decision involves two principal stages. Prosecutors consider whether there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and, if that threshold is met, whether prosecution is in the public interest.

That means the transfer of a file from police to prosecutors is not itself a finding of criminal liability.

When are Grenfell charging decisions expected?

The Metropolitan Police said the CPS has committed to making charging decisions before the 10th anniversary of the fire in June 2027.

The timetable marks the next major stage after nine years of police investigation. The force said its investigators had worked closely with CPS prosecutors during the investigation and had provided the evidence for prosecutors to make the necessary decisions.

The CPS had previously explained that the scale and complexity of the evidence required substantial time for examination. In a 2024 statement, Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said specialist prosecutors would review the completed evidential file and did not expect to make charging decisions until the end of 2026 at that point.

The subsequent police timetable now places the charging decisions before June 2027.

The Metropolitan Police has also indicated that any criminal trial would not be expected to begin until at least 2029. That reflects the potential scale of any prosecution arising from the investigation and should not be interpreted as confirmation that charges will be brought.

What has the London Fire Brigade said about its response to Grenfell?

The LFB said it remembered those who died and remained focused on bereaved families, survivors and others affected by the disaster.

Jonathan Smith said the brigade had accepted the findings of both phases of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and implemented its recommendations. He also said the lessons from the tragedy continued to influence the work of the organisation.

The statement comes as the CPS begins examining the police files. It therefore does not address what decision prosecutors may eventually make concerning the brigade.

The distinction between the inquiry process and the criminal investigation is important. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry examined the circumstances and causes of the disaster, while the criminal investigation is concerned with whether there is sufficient evidence to support prosecutions for specific offences.

What has Grenfell United said about the next stage?

Grenfell United, which represents bereaved families and survivors, has called for the criminal justice process to continue without further unnecessary delay.

In comments reported by Grainne Cuffe of Inside Housing, the group said families had already waited a long time and wanted those found guilty of offences connected with the deaths to face the consequences provided by law.

The group’s statement reflects the wider significance of the CPS stage for people directly affected by the fire. However, any decision about charges, prosecution and eventual guilt will be determined through the criminal justice process rather than by the campaign group or the organisations involved.

What is the significance of the Metropolitan Police investigation’s scale?

The scale of the investigation provides context for the length of time between the fire and the submission of the files.

The Metropolitan Police said its investigators examined more than 15,000 people and 700 organisations. It also said its final material included more than four million words of summary reports, more than 12,600 pages and references to over 45,000 documents, images and exhibits.

In May, the force reported that investigators had collected 165 million electronic files, taken 14,400 statements and stored more than 27,000 exhibits, including pieces of cladding, insulation, doors, windows and smaller building components.

The police have said this evidence had to be examined alongside the work of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The final inquiry report ran to about 1,700 pages, according to the Metropolitan Police’s earlier update.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Kevin Southworth described the September submission as a milestone while acknowledging the impact of the lengthy investigation on bereaved families, survivors and residents.

The force said the investigation had taken this long because of its complexity and the need to prepare evidence for prosecutors.

Why has Laura Johnson’s appointment also attracted attention?

The latest development follows renewed attention around the employment of Laura Johnson, who was director of housing at RBKC from 2009 until shortly after the Grenfell fire.

In September, Grenfell United expressed concern about Ms Johnson’s permanent appointment as director of development and property at the Barnet Group, a council-owned organisation.

Grainne Cuffe of Inside Housing reported that Johnson had initially served in the Barnet role on an interim basis before being appointed permanently in August. Her salary was reported as £157,078.

Johnson had previously overseen housing at RBKC during the period leading up to the disaster. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report, published in September 2024, found chronic and systemic failings in fire safety management at the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation and criticised its relationship with residents.

The inquiry also heard evidence from Johnson concerning a deficiency notice issued by the London Fire Brigade in November 2016. According to Inside Housing’s report, Johnson confirmed that she had not verified with KCTMO whether fire safety issues identified in the notice had been addressed.

The inquiry subsequently examined the refurbishment process and the selection of cladding materials used on the tower.

Grenfell United called on Barnet Council and the Barnet Group to reconsider Johnson’s appointment.

Barnet, however, said the appointment was made on merit following a publicly advertised and competitive recruitment process. The organisation said it was aware of the Grenfell inquiry findings and had considered them alongside Johnson’s professional experience, performance, references, qualifications and suitability.

The Barnet Group also said it would not discuss matters concerning staff relating to previous employment and said Johnson had played an important role in securing a C1 consumer grade from the Regulator of Social Housing.

What does the Grenfell Tower Inquiry provide as background to the criminal investigation?

The Grenfell Tower fire took place in June 2017 at the 24-storey residential tower in west London. Seventy-two people died, including 18 children.

The subsequent Grenfell Tower Inquiry examined the circumstances surrounding the disaster, including the refurbishment of the building, the materials used, fire safety arrangements, the actions of organisations involved with the tower and the response to the fire.

The second and final report was published in September 2024. Its findings have since formed an important part of the evidence considered by investigators, alongside evidence gathered independently by the police.

The Metropolitan Police has repeatedly stressed that the criminal investigation is separate from the inquiry and that criminal liability must ultimately be determined through the courts.

The police’s latest submission therefore represents a procedural transition: the investigation has moved from the evidence-gathering stage to the prosecutorial decision-making stage.

How could the CPS stage affect bereaved families, survivors and the housing sector?

For bereaved families and survivors, the CPS review creates a formal process for determining whether criminal charges should follow the police investigation. The Metropolitan Police has committed to a charging timetable before the 10th anniversary of the fire, while any resulting trials are not expected to begin until at least 2029.

For local authorities, housing organisations and fire and rescue bodies, the process provides a further examination of responsibilities arising from the circumstances surrounding Grenfell. The CPS decisions will determine whether evidence meets the legal requirements for prosecution; they will not be determined by the organisations’ public statements or by the fact that files have been submitted.

The wider housing sector is also likely to continue examining the lessons identified by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, particularly in relation to fire safety, building management, resident engagement and organisational accountability.

At this stage, the precise effect on the LFB cannot be determined because the CPS has not announced a charging decision concerning the brigade. The immediate development is that evidence concerning the organisation has entered the prosecutorial review process.

What is the background to the Grenfell criminal investigation?

The criminal investigation began after the June 2017 fire and has continued alongside the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

The Metropolitan Police said in May 2026 that its investigation had examined the role of 15,000 individuals and 700 organisations, with 20 organisations and dozens of individuals ultimately identified as suspects for potential criminal offences.

By September 30, 2026, the police had submitted all 20 files to the CPS. The files concern 20 organisations and 54 individuals, while the CPS has been asked to consider a range of potential offences.

The LFB is now the third organisation publicly confirmed as having a file submitted to prosecutors. RBKC and MHCLG were previously identified publicly.

The CPS will make its own decisions after reviewing the evidence. Under its normal charging framework, prosecutors must consider both the evidential test and the public-interest stage before authorising a prosecution.

What could happen next in the Grenfell case?

The immediate next stage is the CPS review of the evidence submitted by the Metropolitan Police. The CPS has committed to making charging decisions before the 10th anniversary of the fire in June 2027.

Several outcomes remain possible for organisations and individuals whose files have been submitted. Prosecutors could authorise charges where the legal tests are satisfied, request further work where necessary, or decide that the evidence does not justify prosecution.

The submission of a file does not establish guilt, and the confirmation that an organisation is being considered does not mean that charges will necessarily follow.

For bereaved families, survivors and residents affected by Grenfell, the process means that the nine-year police investigation has reached the prosecutorial stage. For the housing and fire-safety sectors, the forthcoming decisions will provide further clarity on whether criminal proceedings will arise from the evidence assembled during the investigation.

Any criminal proceedings that are ultimately authorised would proceed through the courts, where allegations would need to be proved in accordance with the criminal law. The Metropolitan Police has said that trials are not expected to start before 2029, but the precise timetable would depend on the decisions made by prosecutors and any subsequent legal proceedings.