Grenfell Inquiry: Aesthetics v safety v money – BBC News

‘Grenfell was the worst residential fire in UK peacetime history, with 72 people losing their lives. We now know what happened – the report on phase one of the public inquiry has been published – but the next phase is spending months investigating why it happened, and considering who might be to blame.’

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BBC News, 13th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Two jailed for Grenfell Tower-related fraud – Metropolitan Police

Posted March 6th, 2020 in accidents, fire, fraud, housing, imprisonment, local government, news, sentencing by sally

‘A couple who claimed to be living in the flat of a deceased Grenfell Tower resident at the time of the fire have been convicted of fraud.’

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Metropolitan Police, 5th March 2020

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Corporate witnesses in Grenfell Tower inquiry given immunity from prosecution – The Independent

Posted February 27th, 2020 in fire, health & safety, immunity, inquiries, news, witnesses by sally

‘Witnesses from firms called to the Grenfell inquiry have won their fight for immunity from prosecution for their evidence, despite a lawyer for the victims describing the idea as “abhorrent”.’

Attorney General’s undertaking

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The Independent, 26th February 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Grenfell public inquiry delayed again over evidence concerns – The Guardian

Posted February 24th, 2020 in accidents, criminal justice, delay, evidence, fire, inquiries, negligence, news by sally

‘The Grenfell Tower public inquiry has been delayed again over demands from companies involved in the disastrous refurbishment that their evidence should not be used to help jail them.’

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The Guardian, 23rd February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

7/7 survivor Thelma Stober to lead Grenfell memorial commission – The Guardian

Posted February 14th, 2020 in accidents, bereavement, fire, monuments, news, victims by sally

‘A survivor of the 7/7 terror attacks is to lead plans for a memorial commemorating the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. Thelma Stober, a lawyer badly injured in the 2005 attack at Aldgate, will co-chair a commission to try to decide how to remember the 72 people killed by the fire at the west London tower block.’

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The Guardian, 14th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Fraud charges possible over Grenfell Tower refit, says inquiry chair – The Guardian

Posted February 11th, 2020 in conspiracy, fire, fraud, health & safety, inquiries, news by sally

‘People involved in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower are facing possible charges of fraud and conspiracy to defraud, according to the chairman of the public inquiry into the disaster that claimed 72 lives.’

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The Guardian, 10th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grenfell Tower inquiry backs protection for refurbishment firms giving evidence – BBC News

‘The chairman of the Grenfell Tower inquiry has backed a request from firms that refurbished the building that evidence they give should not be used against them in criminal prosecutions.’

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BBC News, 7th February 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

People who worked on Grenfell Tower ‘could face life sentences’ – The Guardian

‘People who worked on the Grenfell Tower refurbishment could face the threat of being jailed for life, their lawyers have said, with witnesses interviewed by police believing they could be charged with manslaughter.’

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The Guardian, 30th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grenfell Tower fire: Firms want immunity over evidence – BBC News

Posted January 30th, 2020 in evidence, fire, health & safety, immunity, inquiries, news, prosecutions by sally

‘Firms involved in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower have asked the public inquiry into the fire for a guarantee that anything they say in the hearings will not be used for any prosecution.’

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BBC News, 29th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bolton Fire Highlights Ongoing High-Rise Health And Safety Issues – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

Posted January 28th, 2020 in fire, health & safety, inquiries, news, reports by sally

‘It could easily have been another Grenfell Tower. On Friday, 15 November 2019, over 100 people were forced to flee The Cube in Bolton, Greater Manchester, after a fire broke out and spread with devastating speed through the upper floors.’

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4-5 Gray's Inn Square, 24th January 2020

Source: www.4-5.co.uk

Grenfell Tower fire: Second phase of inquiry to begin – BBC News

‘The second phase of the Grenfell Tower fire inquiry is to begin later, days after one of its panellists resigned.’

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BBC News, 27th January 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New building safety regulator for England to be set up immediately – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 23rd, 2020 in building law, construction industry, fire, health & safety, news by sally

‘Planned measures to improve high-rise residential building and fire safety in England will be speeded up, the UK government has announced.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 22nd February 2020

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Scores of tower blocks with Grenfell-style cladding have no plan in place to remove it, figures show – The Independent

‘Two and a half years on from fatal Kensington blaze, more than 21,000 households still living in flats wrapped in flammable cladding that allowed fire to rapidly spread’

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The Independent, 16th January 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Grenfell victims face eight-year wait for justice over inferno that killed 72 – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 6th, 2020 in accidents, bereavement, delay, emergency services, families, fire, inquiries, news, victims by sally

‘The families of Grenfell victims could be forced to wait at least eight years after the tragedy to discover if anybody will ever be charged over 72 deaths.’

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Daily Telegraph, 4th January 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Grenfell Tower: London Fire Brigade ‘too slow to learn lessons from disaster’, says watchdog – The Independent

Posted December 17th, 2019 in emergency services, fire, news, reports by sally

‘The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has been too slow to learn lessons from the Grenfell tragedy, with “wasteful” practices, insufficiently trained staff and failure to follow national guidance still being a problem in the organisation two and a half years on, a watchdog has warned.’

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The Independent, 17th December 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Man who set ex-girlfriend’s home on fire spared jail because he was ‘badly affected’ by break-up – The Independent

Posted November 29th, 2019 in arson, fire, news, sentencing, suspended sentences by sally

‘A man who committed arson after his ex-girlfriend broke up with him has been spared jail after his lawyer argued the attack was an “acute stress reaction” to the end of the relationship.’

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The Independent, 28th November 2019

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Inquest finds St Leonards hospice patients were unlawfully killed in fire – Garden Court Chambers

Posted November 26th, 2019 in fire, inquests, news, unlawful killing by sally

‘At an inquest in Hastings yesterday Senior Coroner Alan Craze concluded that three patients who died after a fire at a hospice on 11 July 2015 were unlawfully killed.’

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Garden Court Chambers, 21st November 2019

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Costs and Co-operation: What Tenants Must do to Assist with Fire Safety -Radcliffe Chambers

Posted November 19th, 2019 in fire, health & safety, landlord & tenant, news by sally

‘Despite being such an important and topical issue, the key piece of fire safety legislation has received very little judicial or academic analysis. This article argues that, properly understood, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires tenants to assist landlords in two ways. First, art.17 requires tenants to allow their landlord access to the demised premises to undertake fire safety repairs and improvements. Secondly, the key duties in the Order provide landlords with a strong defence to any challenge to the reasonableness of fire safety-related service charges.’

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Radcliffe Chambers, 14th November 2019

Source: radcliffechambers.com

Grenfell criminal charges more likely, say lawyers after inquiry – The Guardian

Posted November 4th, 2019 in fire, health & safety, inquiries, news, prosecutions by sally

‘Lawyers believe the prospect of criminal charges against those responsible for the Grenfell Tower tragedy has “increased significantly” following findings by the official inquiry into the disaster.’

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The Guardian, 3rd November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Grenfell Tower inquiry: the chair’s findings so far – The Guardian

‘Firefighters’ ‘stay put’ tactics and apparent lack of preparation and construction materials criticised.’

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The Guardian, 30th October 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com