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Cosmopolitan
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Cosmopolitan
Has anyone been arrested following the Grenfell Tower fire?
On 14 June 2017, a deadly blaze erupted through Grenfell Tower, a 24-storey residential block in North London, which claimed the lives of 72 people and left dozens injured. Amongst those who died, 18 were children. Shortly after the fire, then-Prime Minister Theresa May ordered an inquiry to uncover what had happened leading up to the tragedy – and seven years later, Sir Martin Moore-Bick's 1700-page report catalogued a 'decade of failure', citing issues within government, building companies and manufacturers which led to Grenfell becoming the UK's deadliest residential fire since the Blitz in World War II. At the time of writing, there have been no arrests or criminal charges levelled against any individual in relation to the Grenfell Tower fire, with the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service stating it is unlikely any charges will be announced before the end of 2026 (at the earliest) due to the sheer 'scale and complexity' of the case. It leaves those who lost loved ones in the fire with an agonising wait for justice, particularly as it looks set to take more than a decade since the incident before anyone will head to court, if indeed any criminal charges are brought. Olaide Iqbal, the documentary maker behind Grenfell: Uncovered, knows how acutely the frustration of the community is felt. She worked closely alongside many families who lived in Grenfell during the time of the fire in order to make the new Netflix film exploring the case. 'There's still very much a community who are waiting for answers, that are waiting for justice, and their story doesn't feel resolved,' she tells Cosmopolitan UK. 'They've not had any closure, and for a number of people in the community directly affected by Grenfell, there's a resounding sense of people wanting justice, wanting answers and wanting their story to be kept alive, particularly when many feel like it's being erased.' In 2020, Leslie Thomas, a lawyer representing the bereaved families of Grenfell, urged the inquiry to not dismiss the impact of race and class, and how it may have contributed to the deaths of Grenfell's 72 victims. 'The Grenfell fire did not happen in a vacuum,' Thomas said in a statement at the inquiry, as reported by the BBC. 'A majority of the Grenfell residents who died were people of colour. Grenfell is inextricably linked with race. It is the elephant in the room. This disaster happened in a pocket of one of the smallest yet richest boroughs in London. "Yet the community affected was predominantly working-class. That is the stark reality that cannot be ignored.' While Iqbal acknowledges that there is an ongoing criminal investigation which is taking place, she knows there's a similar sentiment amongst the people she spoke to as part of Grenfell: Uncovered. They feel their social standing may have impacted the path to justice. 'It's definitely a community that has felt that their class, their race, their culture has played a part in why they were treated the way they were in the lead up to Grenfell, and some believe that's why they've been treated in a particular way since the fire as well,' she says. 'But making the documentary… we saw how complicated Grenfell is. It's not like there's a single person you can go and slap handcuffs on. I think because there's just that many people involved, and when a case is so big and goes back for so many decades, it's tricky to know where to start. 'As the inquiry concluded, so many different factors, in one way or another, contributed to the fire. But I understand the frustration to the community. When you go out and see that people have gone on to do bigger and maybe better things despite their actions or inactions that led to the fire, it's definitely frustrating. 'It's why those with big platforms, and hopefully this documentary, can keep Grenfell in people's mouths and minds, as it's something everyone should care about.' Grenfell: Uncovered is available on Netflix now Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper's Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kim Leadbeater speaks at memorial Get Together for late Jo Cox
Political figures, including the MP for Batley and Spen, have gathered to remember the legacy of the late Jo Cox MP. The Great Parliamentary Get Together recently took place at Speaker's House in Westminster. Get Togethers are held annually across the country to remember Ms Cox and the 'more in common' values she championed. Kim Leadbeater, Ms Cox's sister and the MP for Batley and Spen, said: "It is heartwarming to see so many familiar faces here - and many new friends too - and on behalf of Jo's family I want to thank you all for coming. "It means a lot to us all that colleagues have taken the time out of their busy schedules to join us to get together to remember Jo. "There is much more work still to do to channel Jo's message of finding common ground." The event was attended by former prime ministers Rishi Sunak and Theresa May; Rachel Reeves; Yvette Cooper; and Lindsay Hoyle, among others. Ms Cox's parents, Gordon and Jean Leadbeater, and Ms Cox's children, Cuillin and Lejla, were special guests. The annual Run for Jo will take place at Oakwell Hall in Birstall this Sunday (June 22), which is also Ms Cox's birthday.
Telegraph
13 hours ago
- Telegraph
Met Police ‘bravest officer' award winner suspended over alleged sexual assault
A policeman once named the bravest officer in England and Wales has been charged with sexual assault. Sgt Stephen Brown has been suspended by the Metropolitan Police following the alleged incident at Biggleswade railway station in Bedfordshire in November 2019. The 47-year-old, who is reportedly a counter-terrorist specialist firearms officer, will appear at St Albans Crown Court on Sept 1. In 2014, he won a national Police Bravery Award for tackling and disarming a man wielding a samurai sword in north London. Sgt Brown stepped in to stop the man on Christmas Eve 2012, who had stabbed a woman earlier that evening. The attacker repeatedly swung the sword at his face and neck. The Met officer discharged his CS spray into the man's face, before quickly moving towards him and striking his arm with a baton three times while the sword was raised in the air. The man was forced to drop his weapon, with Sgt Brown immediately jumping on top of him to restrain him. The offender continued to struggle violently before backup officers arrived and he was arrested. Officers later discovered the bag he was carrying contained an arsenal of weapons. Not guilty plea Sgt Brown was presented with the bravery award, which is given annually to officers who demonstrate acts of heroism in the course of their duty, by Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the then commissioner of the Met Police, at a ceremony in London. Theresa May, the then home secretary, said: 'The actions of Sgt Stephen Brown are a powerful reminder of the commitment and courage that police officers bring to their role. 'Sgt Brown put his own life in danger to defuse a terrifying situation. His intervention protected the public and may well have saved the lives of others.' Sgt Brown, from Bedfordshire, appeared at Stevenage magistrates' court in November, when he entered a plea of not guilty to sexual assault. A Met Police spokesman said: 'We are aware that a serving Met officer has been charged with sexual assault following an alleged incident in November 2019. 'He is currently suspended.'
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Met terror cop winner of bravest officer in England award after he stopped a Samurai sword attack is suspended after being charged with sexual assault
A Met Police counter terror firearms officer once named the bravest officer in England and Wales has been suspended after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman at a train station. Sergeant Stephen Brown, 47, is claimed to have sexually touched the woman without her consent at Biggleswade Railway Station on November 29 2019. The force said: 'We are aware that a serving Met officer has been charged with sexual assault following an alleged incident in November 2019. He is currently suspended.' Brown was previously the recipient of a national bravery award in 2014 after he tackled a samurai sword-wielding attacker. The knifeman repeatedly lunged at him with the weapon until the officer moved inside its arc and struck him with his metal baton. Ahla Timofei, then 26, dropped the sword and Sgt Brown leapt on top of him, holding him down until colleagues arrived. When they searched his rucksack they found a terrifying arsenal of weapons including a crossbow, mallet, machete and gas masks. Brown was named the overall winner of the Police Bravery Awards at a ceremony in Central London, recieving the award from then-head of the Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe. Ex-Prime Minister Theresa May lauded the officer, saying his actions were 'a powerful reminder of the commitment and courage that police officers bring to their role'. Brown, of Sandy, Central Bedfordshire, appeared at Stevenage Magistrates Court in November, when he entered a plea of not guilty. He is set to appear at St Albans Crown court in September. British Transport Police, who charged Brown, said: 'Stephen Brown, aged 47, of Sandy, Bedfordshire, will appear at St Albans Crown Court on Monday 1 September charged with sexual assault. 'The charge relates to an incident that took place at Biggleswade station on 29 November 2019.' The dramatic confrontation involving Sgt Brown took place when he was called to an attack on a woman in Holloway Road, North London. Timofei, 26, was later found guilty of attempted murder and affray and a judge ordered that he spend the rest of his life in a secure mental health unit Witnesses heard the victim's screams after Timofei set upon her with his sword, severing her thumb and leaving her with wounds to her face, arms and legs. As his partner gave first aid to the bleeding 22-year-old Italian woman, Sgt Brown confronted the sword-wielding maniac alone. Describing what happened, Sgt Brown said: 'I was running full pelt at him and he turned around and raised the sword straight up in the air. 'He swung downwards and the sword missed my neck by about a foot. I stepped back and said 'put the sword down', but he didn't listen and took a few more swings. 'After spraying him he went to scratch his eye and I thought, I've got to do this now. I rushed in and he raised his sword again but I hit his arm as many times as I could and managed to jump on top of him and the cavalry arrived. 'I could see in his eyes he wanted to kill me. I wasn't going to see Christmas: I thought my luck had run out.' Sgt Brown was guided to the swordman by a passer-by who saw the original attack and followed him while on the phone to a police operator. The officer said: 'I have no doubt that he wasn't going to stop until he killed someone that night. I also have no doubt that any cop would have done the same. 'I'm not a hero: the real hero is the member of the public who went above and beyond and followed him, having seen what he had done.' Timofei, 26, was later found guilty of attempted murder and affray and a judge ordered that he spend the rest of his life in a secure mental health unit. Then-Home Secretary Theresa May said: 'The actions of Sgt Stephen Brown are a powerful reminder of the commitment and courage that police officers bring to their role. 'He put his own life in danger to defuse a terrifying situation. His intervention protected the public and may well have saved the lives of others. 'We should reflect on the bravery shown by all the officers nominated, and that displayed by all police officers in the course of their duties each day.' Steve White, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, added: 'I am constantly humbled and amazed by the selfless acts of bravery carried out by police officers on a day to day basis. 'For every act of courage and bravery recognised in the Police Bravery Awards there are hundreds more that occur in our communities every day that go unrecognised.'
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Grenfell should make us all uncomfortable': Olaide Sadiq on making Grenfell: Uncovered
Over the course of 100 minutes, a new documentary on the Grenfell Tower disaster splices footage from the night and the subsequent public inquiry with testimony from survivors and the bereaved. And at its heart is a universal story: classism, the prioritisation of individual profit over public safety, and a lack of accountability for the decision-makers behind it. 'Grenfell might have looked like a unique thing that happened to a select group of people, but there's a universality in being the victim of profit over safety,' the film-maker Olaide Sadiq said. 'Decisions are made by people and in spaces that we're not privy to, which could come to affect us one day.' Many interviewees agree throughout the film, not least Theresa May, the prime minister at the time. 'There were a group of people whose very housing meant that they were in some sense second class to others,' she says. 'I hope that coming out of the Grenfell tragedy, we can erase that sense.' It's a thread weaved throughout Grenfell: Uncovered, which is released on Netflix this week – eight years after the fire that killed 72 people. Sadiq knew one of the victims of the fire, Khadija Saye, a photographer who had exhibited at the Venice Biennale, and who died alongside her mother. 'I remember it like it was yesterday. You always think this country has the resources and money to ensure things like that don't happen, Kensington and Chelsea is one of the richest boroughs in the world. But it did happen, with devastating consequences.' May is forthcoming in the film – she repeats her previous assertion that she will 'always regret' not meeting survivors of the blaze when she first visited the site. It was a surprisingly 'open' conversation for Sadiq, who said she was 'very clear' about the purposes of her documentary. 'May was on board with it. Regardless of how you feel about her as a former PM, it was brave of her to sit down and own what she wanted to own.' Survivors, the bereaved and the firefighters deployed on the night speak of their disbelief at how the fire could have spread so quickly – within mere minutes, because the cladding materials and insulation were so flammable. The documentary details the institutional failures at the London fire brigade and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It reminds us of David Cameron's wider government policy to relax laws and regulations, despite the risks this posed. It also refers to documents Sadiq and Netflix uncovered through a court process, including emails between staff members at Arconic, the multibillion-dollar US company that made the combustible cladding panels on the the tower. 'I always felt like I knew a lot about Grenfell, but I gained a newfound knowledge through making this, including just how avoidable it all was,' Sadiq said. 'There's so much my eyes are open to now, and I want other people to watch this and feel the same. The Grenfell story should make us all uncomfortable. And to this day it remains unresolved.' Last September, Sir Martin Moore-Bick's report on the causes of the fire highlighted the incompetence, dishonesty and greed that made the blaze possible. It said the key companies involved – Arconic, Celotex and Kingspan – had engaged in 'deliberate and sustained strategies to manipulate the testing processes, misrepresent test data and mislead the market'. The companies all issued statements to the effect that they did not accept the findings of the inquiry, and they also denied Sadiq's requests for comment in the new documentary. As did the former housing secretary and Tory peer Eric Pickles, who Moore-Bick said had failed to act on a coroner's 2013 recommendation to tighten fire safety regulations after a similar, fatal fire at another London council block. 'The survivors and bereaved want accountability, they want criminal prosecutions,' Sadiq said. 'They joke that they want the police to watch this. As do I. How has no one been arrested yet? The lack of justice is incredibly upsetting for everyone.' One bereaved person even showed Sadiq a photograph of how they received the remains of their loved one, an image the director said stayed in her head for a long time. 'You underestimate just how harrowing Grenfell was.' If there's anything Sadiq hopes will come from the film, it's the acceleration of 'real change', including the removal of dangerous cladding which remains on thousands of buildings across the UK. She added: 'I really hope that it helps survivors push for accountability. That it ignites conversations about our society, and the systemic issues that exist in this country.'
