Met awaits annual grant for Grenfell crime probe

"The settlement was lower than we had anticipated, and the MPS and City Hall are in ongoing discussions with the Home Office about 2026-27 and 2027-28 budget years. The MPS also awaits certainty on specific grants which include the criminal investigation into Grenfell, Operation Northleigh as well as Operation Beaconport, which reviews closed investigations into group-based child sexual abuse and exploitation."

"Operation Northleigh began after the blaze that killed 72 people in North Kensington during June 2017. It is one of the largest investigations ever undertaken by Scotland Yard. The team has grown in numbers over the years and now involves more than 220 investigators - costing 127m to date."

"The Met said the criminal inquiry is examining a range of very serious criminal offences including corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, fraud and breaches of health and safety law. Investigators are assessing the actions of 20 companies and more than 50 individuals."

Operation Northleigh, the Metropolitan Police's criminal investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire that killed 72 people in June 2017, currently employs over 220 investigators and has cost £127 million to date. The investigation examines serious criminal offences including corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, fraud, and health and safety breaches involving 20 companies and more than 50 individuals. The Met has historically received annual special grants from the Home Office to support this large-scale inquiry. However, following the Home Office's announcement of the final Police Settlement on 29 January, which was lower than anticipated, the Met now awaits confirmation of continued funding for Operation Northleigh and other special investigations for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 budget years.

Read at www.bbc.com