Meanwhile at PMQs Keir Starmer apologises on behalf of the British state and says 鈥榯oday is a long awaited day of truth but it must now lead to a day of justice鈥�

A senior Metropolitan Police officer has said it could take at least 12 to 18 months to review all the evidence relating to Grenfell so that charges can be brought.

new scotland yard met police

New Scotland Yard (pic:Shutterstock)

Stuart Cundy, deputy assistant commissioner, said today鈥檚 Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report is 鈥渄irect, comprehensive and reaches clear conclusions鈥�.

However, he warned that it is not simply a case of immediately bringing charges against those criticised in the inquiry鈥檚 report.

He said: 鈥淥ur police investigation is independent of the public inquiry. It operates under a different legal framework and so we cannot simply use the report鈥檚 findings as evidence to bring charges.

鈥淭o secure justice for those who died and all those affected by the fire we must examine the report 鈥� line by line 鈥� alongside the evidence from the criminal investigation. As I said previously, this will take us at least 12-18 months.鈥�

He said this will lead to the 鈥渟trongest possible evidence鈥� being presented to the Crown Prosecution Service so they can make charging decisions.

In May the Met Police said it has a dedicated team of 180 officers and staff working on its Grenfell investigation.

It said it is investigating 19 companies or organisations and 58 individuals, as suspects. It said it has spent more than year examining the tragedy and has collated more than 27,000 exhibits, including cladding, insulation, doors, windows and other parts of the building, down to screws, nuts and bolts.

More on the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report

Construction鈥檚 day of reckoning as Grenfell Inquiry finds severe failings across industry laid ground for deadly blaze

Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report: all our coverage in one place

Decades of central government failure led to Grenfell tragedy, says inquiry

Manufacturers knowingly misled the market over combustible construction materials, Grenfell Inquiry concludes

Failures in refurbishment job that led to fire 鈥榣ikely widespread鈥� in construction industry, Grenfell Inquiry finds

Meanwhile Keir Starmer said the government will 鈥渃arefully consider the report and its recommendations.鈥�

He said: 鈥淚 hope that those outside government will do the same.

鈥淕iven the detailed and extensive nature of the report, a further and more in-depth debate will be held at a later date.鈥�

At Prime Minister鈥檚 Questions, Starmer acknowledged that Sir Martin had set out a 鈥渃atalogue of industry failures for which there must be full accountability鈥�, but he also quoted the inquiry chair blaming 鈥渄ecades of failure by central government鈥�.

Starmer said: 鈥淚 want to start with an apology on behalf of the British state to all of the families affected by this tragedy. It should never have happened. The country failed to discharge its most fundamental duty: to protect you and your loved ones, and I am deeply sorry.鈥�

He added: 鈥淚 listened carefully to one of the members of the inquiry Ali Akbor this morning who said this: 鈥榳hat is needed is that those responsible for building safety to reflect and to treat Grenfell as a touchstone for all that they do in the future.鈥�

 鈥淚 consider myself as someone responsible for building safety and that is exactly what I will do and what I鈥檒l demand of this government.

 鈥淭oday is a long-awaited day of truth but it must now lead to a day of justice. Justice for the victims and the families of Grenfell.鈥�

 

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