Sunday, September 01, 2024

UK
Jail profiteers responsible for Grenfell, bereaved say ahead of final report



A member of the public at the memorial at the base of Grenfell Tower in London, June 14, 2024, in remembrance of those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire on June 14 2017


MORNING STAR
Monday, September 2, 2024


JAIL the profiteers responsible for Grenfell Tower, bereaved survivors said ahead of the final report into deadly blaze seven years ago.

The long-running inquiry will publish its findings on how the west London tower block came to be in a condition which allowed the flames to quickly claim the lives of 72 people on Wednesday.

Inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick is set to expose any failings by corporate firms in the construction industry, the local authority, London Fire Brigade and the government.

But the bereaved and survivors face an “unbearable” wait which could stretch to a decade before any criminal charges are brought.

The Met Police says it needs until the end of 2025 to finalise its mammoth investigation into the fire, with a further year for prosecutors to haul culprits into court.

Sandra Ruiz, whose 12-year-old niece Jessica Urbano Ramirez died in the fire, said: “For me, there’s no justice without people going behind bars.

“People who have made decisions putting profit above people’s safety need to be behind bars.

“Our lives were shattered on that night, people need to be held accountable.

“They know what part they played. The inquiry knows what part they played. And the police know what part they played. Now they just need to take some action about it.

“Let’s not drag this out another seven years.”

Ms Ruiz added the final report must be a “landmark report” which prompts “cultural, institutional and legislative change,” as “we’ve seen all too often” how people have “completely sidestepped their areas of responsibility.

“Those ethics have gone by the wayside in favour of profits, and this is what we see as a result.”

Former tower resident and Grenfell United member Edward Daffarn said he hopes it will “highlight the institutionalised indifference that saw private companies put profit before people.”

The safety campaigner, who famously predicted the fire in a blog post just months before it happened, hoped those like him who were painted as “rebel residents” for challenging the relevant local authorities will be vindicated in the report.

He also hoped it will “fully expose” the actions of the government and private companies and that “the buck-passing that took place during the public inquiry, where none of the corporate core participants took any responsibility for their actions, is going to come to an end.”



Speed up cladding remediation deputy PM tells regulators



Today's Conveyancer
September 2, 2024

An industry roundtable convened following the major fire at flats in Dagenham has been told regulators and partners must speed up the remediation of unsafe buildings.

Deputy Prime Minster Angela Rayner and Building Safety Minister Rushanara Ali attended the roundtable, which also hosted West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester Paul Dennett and Deputy Mayor of London Jules Pipe, along with key representatives from the London Fire Brigade, the National Fire Chiefs Council, the Local Government Association, the Building Safety Regulator, and other key partners.

Ms Rayner praised the bravery of the firefighters but took others to task on the lack of progress on unsafe properties, brought to light in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster and demonstrated at the Spectrum Building in Dagenham last week.

“Speeding up the remediation of buildings is absolutely critical. Seven years on from Grenfell, action has been far too slow and the fire in Dagenham is a horrific reminder of the risk unsafe cladding still poses to far too many people.”

“This government will expect more from regulators and partners to make sure action is being taken now to make homes safe, speed up remediation and ensure that buildings in the process of being remediated are managed safely for residents.”

Said Ms Rayner. Building Safety Minister Rushanara Ali added

“I would like to thank the emergency services, council and wider community for all they have done following the fire in Dagenham. It is absolutely essential that central and local government, regulators, and partners come together, as we have today, to drive fast and effective change to get buildings fixed, made safe and make sure residents are protected.”

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