https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...-to-face-trial

The bereaved and survivors of Grenfell Tower must wait until at least 2027 – a decade after the blaze that killed 72 people – before those suspected of being responsible for the disaster could face criminal trials, it has emerged.

Families described the news as “shocking” and called the wait for charges for people to be held accountable for their crimes “unbearable”.

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It amounts to a more than four-year delay on an earlier expected timetable and comes because the police say they must take into account the final report of the public inquiry, which could take 18 months.

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A statement from Grenfell United, a group of bereaved and survivors, said: “10 years until we see justice”. It continued: “10 years until we see prosecutions. 10 years until those responsible for the murders of 72 people are held to account for their crimes. This should be shocking for everyone, but for us, we live our lives on hold while those responsible walk free.”

The public inquiry has yet to set a date for publication but it will be after the seventh anniversary of the fire, which is next month.

The police also revealed that 58 individuals and 19 companies and organisations are suspects, with potential charges now including misconduct in public office, indicating that local and national government politicians and officials could face trial.

Detectives declined to name individual suspects but said other possible crimes also include corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, fraud and perverting the course of justice.

They also confirmed explicitly that they believe that the deaths caused by the fire were the result of criminal acts.