Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report finds fire was "culmination of decades of failure"

Today, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry has released its final report following Phase 2 of the Inquiry, which examines the causes of the fire on 14 June 2017. The Phase 1 report previously examined the factual narrative of events on the night of the fire.

The report concluded that the fire at Grenfell Tower was the "culmination of decades of failure" by central government as well as bodies in the construction industry to identify the risk of using combustible materials to clad high-rise residential buildings.

In the testing and marketing of products, the report highlighted "systematic dishonesty" by those who made and sold combustible materials which were used to clad Grenfell Tower. There was also a "persistent indifference to fire safety" by those jointly responsible for the management of fire safety at Grenfell Tower, the Tenants Management Organisation (TMO) and the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (RBKC).

The use of combustible materials was not properly scrutinised despite the risk being "well-known". The principle contractor was described as giving "inadequate thought" to fire safety during the refurbishment project.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) was found to have a "chronic lack of effective management and leadership", and there was a failure to effectively deliver training. The LFB failed to ensure that the dangers posed by combustible materials was "shared with the wider organisation" and was reflected in the organisation's training and procedures adequately.

Our Joint-Head of Chambers, Rajiv Menon KC, represented Behailu Kebede, the occupant in whose flat the Grenfell fire broke-out, instructed by Rubin Italia of Duncan Lewis Solicitors.

Leslie Thomas KC represented 23 clients including survivors, bereaved family members and loved ones, alongside Thalia Maragh of Garden Court, instructed by Cyrilia Knight of Saunders Solicitors, Linda Barker of Duncan Lewis Solicitors, Robert Berg of Janes Solicitors and Gary Bromelow of Saunders Law.

Allison Munroe KC represented a number of survivors, bereaved family members and loved ones, instructed by Birnberg Peirce and Deighton Pierce Glynn. Alison previously delivered a powerful and moving oral closing submission to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry on Monday 27 June. The submission was featured in the press, including Inside Housing, and The Big Issue.

Our Patrick Roche has been instructed by Marcia Willis-Stewart & Hazel Metcalfe at Birnberg Peirce, Sarah Ricca at Deighton Pierce Glynn, and Cyrilia Davies Knight at Saunders & Co to represent a number of survivors, bereaved family members and loved ones in relation to their claims for damages arising out of the disaster.

Press coverage: The Guardian, BBC News, Sky News