Harriet Harman Urges Swift Police Action on Grenfell as Inquiry Concludes After Seven Years

Harriet Harman asserts that law enforcement should expedite the Grenfell investigation. The Labour member of the House of Lords emphasized that "the delay has been excessive," criticizing the duration of the seven-year public inquiry into the fire as "unnecessarily prolonged."

Political journalist @NifS

Thursday, September 5, 2024, 3:

Ex-Labour MP Harriet Harman has urged the police to accelerate their investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire.

The official investigation into the deadly fire in west London that claimed 72 lives in 2017 concluded with its final report on Wednesday.

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The statement blamed multiple administrations for their inaction, even though they were aware of the dangers posed by specific types of cladding and insulation. It also condemned the pervasive deceit practiced by the companies that produced these materials.

On the Electoral Dysfunction podcast on Sky News, the Labour peer expressed that the seven-year duration of the investigation was excessively prolonged and called for the police to expedite the prosecution process.

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"She emphasized the need for the police to expedite their investigation," she stated. "The notion that following seven years of a public inquiry, an additional two years would be needed before deciding on prosecutions… they really need to speed up the process and act more swiftly."

"Make sure it's done before the close of 2026. The public has been patient for too long already."

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Ms. Harman expressed her comprehension regarding why governments refrain from imposing deadlines on public inquiries, explaining that "they need the necessary time to complete and [ministers] aim to preserve their autonomy."

However, she noted, "I believe seven years is excessively lengthy. Other nations impose time constraints. Therefore, even if there's a comprehensive review at three-and-a-half years, and additional details might be needed, seven years still seems overly extended."

"It's essential for the police to have been working, and likely they have been, on assembling the necessary evidence for a case that they will present to the Crown Prosecution Service, which will then determine if charges should be filed."

"It was possible for them to engage in those activities, and ideally, they would have allocated ample resources to it, simultaneously with the ongoing investigation throughout those seven years… they need to ensure the technical aspects are correctly handled."

"Nobody desires to see prosecutions fall apart due to inadequate preparation, but it's crucial that they really get moving. There must be a real sense of urgency in their approach."

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On Wednesday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer addressed the Commons, issuing an apology to the victims, survivors, and their families "on behalf of the British state."

He continued, "This should never have occurred. Our nation did not fulfill its essential obligation to safeguard you and your loved ones, those whom we are pledged to serve, and for that, I am profoundly apologetic."

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Sir Keir announced that the government plans to contact all the firms mentioned in the report as an initial measure to prevent them from receiving government contracts. He also stated that the government would assist law enforcement and legal authorities with their ongoing investigations.

He further committed that the government would review each suggestion from the report and provide a response within six months.

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