Government to investigate companies linked to Grenfell tragedy

The UK government has launched an investigation into seven companies connected to the Grenfell Tower fire, following findings that manufacturers misrepresented fire safety information, The Times has reported.

Angela Rayner, deputy prime minister, stated that executives who breach regulations could face prison sentences and unlimited fines. The investigation, led by the Cabinet Office, will determine whether the companies engaged in professional misconduct under the Procurement Act 2023.

According to The Times, the Grenfell fire in 2017 killed 72 people after flames spread rapidly due to combustible cladding. A public inquiry concluded that manufacturers manipulated safety tests and misled the market. The government has pledged to implement all 58 recommendations from the inquiry.

Companies under scrutiny for Grenfell Tower refurbishment

The investigation will examine companies involved in the 2016 refurbishment of Grenfell Tower, The Times has reported. These include Rydon, the main contractor, Studio E, the architect, Harley Facades, the cladding subcontractor, and Exova, the fire engineer.

Additionally, the manufacturers of Grenfell’s cladding system—Arconic, Kingspan, and Celotex’s former owner Saint-Gobain—face potential exclusion from public contracts, according to The Times. The inquiry found that these firms misrepresented the fire safety of their products, which were later used on thousands of other buildings.

Police are conducting a separate investigation into 58 individuals and 19 organisations for potential criminal offences, including manslaughter and fraud, The Times has reported.

New regulator to oversee construction product safety

The government has announced plans to create a single construction regulator to address what the inquiry described as “seriously defective” industry oversight, The Times has reported.

The regulator will not directly test or certify products but will supervise private assessors who carry out these functions. The Grenfell inquiry previously criticised the role of private companies in certifying products, finding that this practice allowed manufacturers to secure approvals based on false safety claims, The Times stated.

Grenfell United, a group representing bereaved families and survivors, stated that the creation of a single regulator “could be a significant step forward if it is well-resourced and tough on industry failure.” However, The Times reported that the group expressed concerns that leaving testing in private hands could allow previous misconduct to continue.

Debate over retrospective accountability and enforcement

The proposed reforms include legal measures allowing for prison sentences and unlimited fines for companies and executives responsible for safety breaches, The Times has reported. However, officials have not confirmed whether these penalties will apply retrospectively to those involved in Grenfell Tower’s refurbishment.

According to The Times, the public inquiry found that safety violations in the construction sector dated back more than a decade before the fire. While some companies have contributed to remediation efforts, many buildings remain unsafe, with cladding removal costs largely falling on taxpayers.

Rayner criticised companies that misrepresented product safety: “Their disgraceful mercenary behaviour put profit before people and exploited the regulatory regime to evade accountability, with fatal consequences.”

UK government launches investigation into companies linked to Grenfell disaster: Summary

The UK government has announced an investigation into seven companies linked to the Grenfell Tower fire, following findings that manufacturers misrepresented fire safety information, The Times has reported. The Cabinet Office will determine whether these companies engaged in professional misconduct under the Procurement Act 2023.

The companies under scrutiny include firms involved in Grenfell Tower’s refurbishment in 2016, such as Rydon, Studio E, Harley Facades, and Exova. The investigation will also examine Arconic, Kingspan, and Celotex’s former owner Saint-Gobain, which manufactured the cladding system, The Times reported.

A new construction regulator will be established to oversee industry safety but will not conduct product testing. The government has proposed prison sentences and unlimited fines for executives and companies that violate safety regulations. However, it remains unclear whether these penalties will be applied retrospectively, The Times has stated. Grenfell United has welcomed some of the reforms but expressed concerns about leaving product certification in private hands. The group also highlighted that nine recommendations from the inquiry remain unconfirmed, The Times reported.