Grenfell survivors 'still being denied justice' four years later
Survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster are still being ‘denied swift justice’ four years on, one former resident has said.
Tiago Alves, 24, whose family narrowly escaped from the blaze on 14 June 2017, said he was ‘disappointed’ at the lack of progress since.
Recommendations from the first phase of the ongoing inquiry into the tragedy have not been enforced and ministers are failing to implement new safety measures which have been promised for months, he added.
Monday marks four years since the most deadly domestic fire since the Second World War ravaged the estate in Kensington, west London.
Tiago’s parents noticed smoke after returning home that night, waking him, his younger sister and a number of other residents on their floor.
The government published a charter of measures to improve safety and quality of social housing in November, but it was not included in the recent Queen’s Speech package of proposed legislation.
The Metropolitan Police have been told to wait until the inquiry is complete before passing evidence to prosecutors who could press criminal charges.
Tiago said: ‘Implementing recommendations and the social housing white paper are important pieces of legislation for us to feel like it’s moving forward.’
‘Because a criminal investigation can’t go ahead until the inquiry is over, it does feel like we’re being denied swift justice.
‘It still doesn’t feel like we’re any closer to achieving the justice that people who passed away deserve. It just feels like it’s taking a long time.’
Tiago joined calls for unsafe cladding and flammable materials to be removed from buildings, adding: ‘In our opinion, the best form of justice that we feel like we can achieve at this very moment, apart from actual criminal justice, is making sure that people are safe in their homes.
‘That’s our way of honouring the legacy of those who’ve passed away, whilst at the same time feeling like their deaths weren’t in vain.’
The 24-year-old, who still lives in the area, said he has had therapy to cope with survivor’s guilt and the ‘extremely difficult’ period following the tragedy.
He added: ‘There was a long time where I did feel like it could have been different, it could have been me.’
Churches have been asked to ring their bells 72 times – marking the number of people who lost their lives to the fire – at 7pm.
At the same time, an online vigil will be held by the Grenfell United campaign group, and members of the public have been asked to display green lights in their homes and gardens at 10pm.
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