Met Police Plan Full-Scale Grenfell Tower Replica to Nail Criminal Trials
The Metropolitan Police are eyeing a full-size replica of Grenfell Tower as a new tool to secure future criminal convictions. But families of the victims warn this move will only drag out justice even longer.
Why the Replica?
The Met revealed the replica could take over a year to build inside a warehouse. Its purpose? To help jurors fully grasp how the devastating fire spread during upcoming trials.
Detective Superintendent Garry Moncrieff, leading the investigation, defended the plan in a letter to families. He called the replica “essential” for juror understanding but admitted no final decision has been made yet.
Families Furious, Trust Shattered
Relatives have slammed the idea, saying it just adds insult to injury and delays justice further. A spokesperson for Grenfell Next of Kin blasted:
“The trust is broken in the Met Police and the system. Now they want to build a tower and on and on it goes.”
Investigation Costs Balloon as Police Ramp Up Efforts
- The probe now involves 180 investigators.
- Costs are expected to top £100 million.
- Police have already compiled millions of words of evidence.
- Files on 20 organisations and individuals are set for submission by late 2026.
The original Grenfell Tower is scheduled for a careful teardown over the next two years. A permanent memorial is due to be proposed by 2026.
A Met Police spokesperson acknowledged the pain the wait causes:
“We recognise the impact the wait for justice has on survivors and families, but we must take every step necessary to ensure a fair trial.
Background: The Tragedy That Shocked a Nation
The Grenfell fire in June 2017 claimed 72 lives. A public inquiry later blamed “decades of failure” by the government and construction industry for the disaster.
