Metropolitan Police have reportedly asked to vet any release of information relating to Kensington and Chelsea Council action on fire safety advice
The Metropolitan Police is reportedly vetting Freedom of Information (FoI) requests to Kensington and Chelsea Council (RBKC) that would outline action taken to mitigate fire risks at Grenfell Tower.
These requests relate to the council’s response after it was warned by London Fire Brigade (LFB) about the potential risks of cladding at Grenfell and other buildings.
The Met says its advice does not constitute an order to withhold the information.
LFB wrote to all 33 London councils in April – two months before the disaster – after concluding that cladding had contributed to another fire in Hammersmith, west London.
However, despite repeated requests under FoI about what Kensington authorities did following that warning, the council is said to have refused to provide answers.
Now, the council says it has been advised by the police not to release the information amid fears it could interfere with the criminal investigation that officers are carrying out with the view that “disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime or the apprehension of prosecution of offenders.”
The LFB warned all the capital’s councils they should check cladding was up to standard, and “take account of other fire-safety measures already in place in the building as well as potential mitigation measures to ensure that any potential fire spread does not pose a risk to health and safety”.
This warning followed a fire at the Shepherd’s Court flats in Hammersmith in August 2016, which the fire service believed was exacerbated by external panels.
The Met has reportedly been asked to see any information about Grenfell Tower RBKC is considering for release under FoI.
Addressed to its director of housing, the LFB letter was forwarded by the council to Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) which was removed of its management of Grenfell Tower after the fire.
The council is dealing with all FoI requests relating to the work of KCTMO.
So far, seven FoI requests have been submitted. Four requests have been denied, two are in progress and one has been granted.
A Kensington and Chelsea Council spokesman said: “We are responding to Freedom of Information requests relating to the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy as we would do on any other request of this nature.
“Any item or documentation requested from us, be it Grenfell Tower-related or any other council business, we will disclose in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and independently of the police or any other external organisation.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the service will consider taking every possible legal step to prevent the Grenfell investigation from being prejudiced.
“As such we are made aware of and consulted on whether the release of material under the Freedom of Information Act, at this stage, may prejudice this ongoing investigation.
“The act allows for such consultation to take place, and there are relevant exemptions for non-release of material that may prejudice, at this stage, an ongoing criminal investigation.
“The release of material remains the decision of the organisation who holds it.”
