London Fire Brigade interviewed under caution over Grenfell Tower disaster
16 September 2019, 10:29
The London Fire Brigade has been interviewed under caution by the Met Police in relation to the Grenfell Tower fire.
Detectives have been investigating the tragedy which claimed 72 lives in June 2017.
The LFB has said it knows "bereaved, survivors and residents need answers", and has vowed to assist the force in finding them.
London Fire Commissioner Dany Cotton said: “We have always been subject to the Metropolitan Police investigation and I want to ensure it is accurately and publicly known the Brigade has now, voluntarily, given an interview ‘under caution in relation to the Health and Safety at Work Act’.
“As the fire and rescue service attending the Grenfell Tower fire it is entirely correct that we are part of the investigation. Hundreds of firefighters, officers and control officers have already provided voluntary police interviews and we will continue to do all we can to assist investigators.
“The bereaved, survivors and residents need answers and we must all understand what happened and why to prevent communities and emergency services from ever being placed in such impossible conditions ever again.
“This was the largest residential fire London Fire Brigade has attended in its history and we will also continue to ensure firefighters, officers and control officers and other Brigade staff are supported throughout this investigation and the on-going Public Inquiry.”
Under sections two of the Health and Safety at Work Act, the LFB has a general duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practical, the health and safety of all those who work for them.
Section three ensures that, so far as is reasonably practical, non-employees are not exposed to health or safety risks by the actions or conduct of the LFB.
A spokesperson for the Met said that to date there have been 17 interviews completed under caution, and the number will continue to rise as they continue their inquiry.
In March, police said it is expected there will be no charges brought for another two years, and said it would be "wrong"to not wait for the final report into the fire.
The second phase of the inquiry will start early in 2020.
