Operation Northleigh, one of the largest investigations ever conducted by Scotland Yard, began after the blaze that killed 72 people in the 24-storey tower block in North Kensington in June 201712:22, 19 May 2026Updated 13:40, 19 May 2026Met Police detectives probing the Grenfell fire disaster will submit their files to the Crown Prosecution Service this September, with a charging decision expected before the tenth anniversary next June, it was announced today.‌Officers say 57 individuals and 20 organisations remain suspects in the investigation, which is codenamed Operation Northleigh and was set up, alongside a two-part public inquiry, after the blaze that killed 72 people in the tower block, in North Kensington, in June 2017. It is understood officers are probing possible charges of misconduct in public office, as well as corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, fraud and breaches of health and safety law.‌Garry Moncrieff, Officer in Overall Command, said: "We have gathered strong evidence and we are on track to submit our charge files to the CPS by the end of September this year. He said it was "important that we do it once and do it right" and that while the public inquiry had "slowed us down slightly", it had not "held back anything we've done". He added: "We were at Grenfell Tower for more than 14 months gathering any evidence we need for the future investigation."‌READ MORE: Reading meningitis outbreak fresh case as junior school pupil taken ill after child diesREAD MORE: 'Majorca’s Fritzl' house of horrors raided after stepdaughter kept as sex slave with sick ‘punishment cellar’Speaking about the impact of the decision on the families, he said: "It's a really important milestone for them. They've waited a really long time for this, but this is a hugely significant and difficult time for them. It has taken nine years almost to get to this stage and we cannot begin to understand the impact that must have had."Mr Moncrieff, who has stayed with the investigation despite retiring as a police officer, added: "That is not the end of the police investigation. We may need to carry out more investigations and that will be an ongoing process for us."‌Police say the number of suspects could change "a little" before the files are finally completed. If the CPS do authorise criminal charges and a trial, it is expected it would not go ahead before 2029. Police also today revealed they have started building a to-scale model of parts of the tower, which will cost more than £2million to build, in preparation for a potential trial. The replica of parts of it is being built at a secret location in a bid to show what the tower looked like before, during and after the fire.A spokesman for Grenfell United, which represents some of the families bereaved by the disaster and survivors, today reacted by calling for no further delay. The group said: “Today’s update from the Metropolitan Police marks an important step in a process that has already taken far too long. For our community, this is not news we meet with celebration. We meet it with caution, grief and determination. We have waited almost a decade for accountability.“No family should have to wait over 10 years for justice for their loved ones, if it comes at all. The final report of the Grenfell Inquiry laid bare the shocking failures, dishonesty and disregard for human life that led to the fire. Grenfell was not a tragedy without cause. Those responsible must now be held to account. "But after waiting nearly 10 years, our community cannot be expected to endure years more of delay. The Ministry of Justice and the Government must ensure the courts are properly resourced so that any prosecutions linked to Grenfell are heard swiftly. Justice delayed any further would be unacceptable.”‌Police today said they have already submitted 15 of 20 files, containing more than 2.2million words, to the CPS, who have been advising them since the start of the investigation. Detectives have described it as the largest, and most complex, investigations ever undertaken by Scotland Yard. It has so far cost at least £150.6m and involves 220 investigators and seen cops gather more than 27,000 pieces of evidence from the tower.As part of the probe, the Met say they have investigated 15,000 individuals and 700 organisations. And they say 165million electronic files have been gathered "and merticulously searched for evidence" as part of the probe, with 14,400 statements taken. They are also reportedly assessing the role of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and its tenant management organisation, companies involved in doing the work, and others which supplied and manufactured building materials.‌Frank Ferguson, CPS Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: "It is not possible to be definitive on the time process, but we are confident we will make charging decisions by the time of the tenth anniversary." Asked about when a possible trial could go ahead, he said: "It's difficult to see it being much before 2029, but it could be."The court service understand there is a very large investigation ongoing and I know there has been contact made with them so that contingency planning can be made if there are charges. We have to see the evidence, we have to make the decisions on the evidence and then take it from there. The early advice files we're seen from the police are of a very high standard and illustrate the thoroughness of the investigation."He added: "We do not underestimate the impact that such a lengthy investigation has had and continues to have on the bereaved, survivors and the residents.".‌Today's announcements come 20 months after a public inquiry concluded Grenfell Tower was turned into a death trap by “dishonest” construction firms, architects and negligent politicians who ignored fire safety for decades. The tragedy began in the early hours of June 14, 2017, after an electric fault in a fridge sparked a fire on the fourth floor, which was drawn upwards by highly flammable cladding encasing the building, rapidly consuming the 24-storey block.Around 1,300 firefighters are thought to have been involved in putting out the blaze, which also left a further 70 people injured. The youngest victim was six-month-old Leena Belkadi, who died in her mother’s arms as she tried to flee. The oldest was Sheila Smith, 84, who had lived there for 34 years. The death toll also included six members of the Choucair family and five of the Hashim family, who lived on the 22nd floor.The public inquiry, chaired by Sir Martin Moore-Bick, told how a refurbishment of the tower before the blaze left the block coated in cheap and highly flammable materials. Grenfell residents had sought to raise the alarm about dangers in the building, but their warnings were ignored. He also condemned the “deliberate and sustained” manipulation of fire safety testing, misrepresentation of test data and misleading of the market.Article continues belowSpeaking in Parliament in February, Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: "For the bereaved and survivors and the wider Grenfell community, the need for justice is deeply felt, including decisions on criminal charges." The minister added: "I know the slow progress is painful for those who have already waited too long for the justice they deserve."Since 2017, the Home Office has provided more than £40m in special grant funding to support Operation Northleigh. In 2022, a High Court judge ruled the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation were liable for fatalities in the fire. The following year, 900 claimants made up of bereaved families, survivors and residents agreed a landmark civil settlement with the Tenant Management Organisation.A two-year process to demolish the tower began in September last year. A memorial banner, which includes the message “Forever in our hearts”, remains on the building, moving down as work progresses.