Grenfell site released as investigators have ‘everything we need’
The Government will take responsibility for the former location of Grenfell Tower as the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) wraps up its on-site investigation.
Detectives released the site on Thursday (August 2) as the tower is no longer required as a crime scene.
For the last year officers have worked meticulously to examine the tower and have recovered “huge quantities” of evidential material.
A local policing team will continue to patrol the surrounding area while the Government takes responsibility for the site instead of the local council.
Commander Stuart Cundy said: “We have recorded every aspect of the tower, both inside and out, using laser scanning as well as extensive photography and videography which enables us to virtually recreate the Grenfell Tower as part of our ongoing investigation.
“We have carefully planned for this day and are satisfied that passing over control of the tower will have no bearing on the ongoing criminal investigation or any subsequent criminal proceedings.
“Simply put, we have everything we need from the tower.”
Seventy-one people died and more than 70 were injured when a fire broke out at Grenfell Tower on June 14, 2017.
An inquiry was launched last September to investigate the causes of the blaze, believed to be a malfunctioning fridge-freezer.
On July 18, the MPS investigation into the incident moved into a new phase with a planned programme of interviews under caution.
Several interviews have already been conducted and the force believes it is likely that further interviews will take place in the near future.
Residents were outraged after it emerged the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea could have been granted oversight of the location, which is expected to be turned into a memorial.
Instead, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has passed responsibility to the independent site management team that has been in place since July 2017.
The Government will make operational decisions on the site’s safety, security and access arrangements until the local community decides on its longer-term future.
A spokesperson for MHCLG said: “The Government has re-committed today to putting the Grenfell Tower bereaved, survivors and community at the heart of deciding what happens to the future of the site.
“As part of this, the Government has announced it will take responsibility for the Grenfell Tower site.
“It will make operational decisions, such as on the site’s safety, security and access, until the future of the site has been determined by the community. A formal agreement will be finalised in the autumn.”