Concerns over ‘narrow’ scope of Grenfell inquiry

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A retired judge heading the inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire has warned it may not be widespread enough to satisfy all survivors.

Sir Martin Moore-Bick suggested the focus of his investigation would likely be limited to what caused the blaze, why it spread and how it could be prevented in future.

But several residents have expressed misgivings, accusing the inquiry of being too “narrow”.

Jamal Williams said: “I think we need to call for a parallel inquiry. There needs to be a separate focus on social housing and systemic failures and I don’t know if that is coming out of this.”

Amanda Fernandez, who lost her 12-year-old cousin in the fire, said she did not have confidence in the investigation.

She said: “We now have a complete lack of confidence in the inquiry’s ability to address the history of negligence that led to the fire, nor the authorities failures in the aftermath of the fire.”

Sir Martin has travelled to the site of the disaster in north Kensington, and has met those who escaped the inferno.

Afterwards, he said: “I’ve been asked to undertake this inquiry on the basis that it would be pretty well limited to the problems surrounding the start of the fire and its rapid development in order to make recommendations about how this sort of thing can be prevented in future.

“I’m well aware the residents and the local people want a much broader investigation and I can fully understand why they would want that.

“Whether my inquiry is the right way in which to achieve that I’m more doubtful.

“I will give that some thought and in due course give a recommendation, but there may be other ways in which the desire for that investigation could be satisfied.”

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