inquiry Archives - News Portal

Grenfell Tower inquiry: LFB ‘failed residents and firefighters’

December 10, 2018 adminfailed, firefighters, Grenfell, inquiry, LFB, residents, Tower0 comment

Image copyright Grenfell Tower Inquiry Image caption Dany Cotton, second from right, in Grenfell Tower on the night of the fire Grenfell Tower residents and firefighters were let down by London Fire Brigade’s leaders, a lawyer for the victims has said. Sam Stein QC told the public inquiry into the fire that commissioner Dany Cotton and her leadership team were “not fit to run” the emergency service. The brigade said it would be unfair for it to be judged before all the evidence was heard. A total of 72 people…

Top stories

Grace Millane: Police start murder inquiry

December 8, 2018 adminGrace, inquiry, Millane, murder, Police, start0 comment

Image copyright Lucie Blackman Trust Image caption The 22-year-old graduated from university in September and went travelling shortly afterwards New Zealand Police have announced they believe missing British backpacker Grace Millane has been murdered. The 22-year-old from Essex – described by her father as “lovely” and “family-orientated” – was last seen in New Zealand a week ago. Det Insp Scott Beard said evidence they had located so far told them Grace was “no longer alive”. A 26-year-old man is currently being held in connection with the murder, Det Insp Beard…

Top stories

Randox forensics inquiry: Forty drug-driving offences quashed

December 6, 2018 admindrugdriving, forensics, Forty, inquiry, offences, quashed, Randox0 comment

Image copyright Press Association Image caption Police chiefs said the cases were dropped after a “most serious breach” of forensic science standards At least 40 motorists convicted of drug-driving offences have been cleared after evidence of manipulation was found in the forensic testing process. The motorists were banned from driving and in some cases fined, but their convictions have since been overturned. About 10,500 test results are being reviewed after data was allegedly manipulated at Randox Testing Services. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) described it as a “most serious…

Top stories

Grenfell Tower inquiry: Expert says fridge-freezer started blaze

November 27, 2018 adminblaze, expert, fridgefreezer, Grenfell, inquiry, started, Tower0 comment

Image copyright PA Image caption The relay compressor compartment recovered from the fridge freezer from flat 16 The fire that engulfed Grenfell Tower probably started due to overheated wiring in a fridge-freezer, according to one expert. John Glover told the inquiry into the blaze that a connector in a Hotpoint FF175BP in flat 16 of the block had a “poor crimp connection”. That meant the wires were not gripped as tightly as they should be and the connector overheated, he said. A total of 72 people died as the result…

Top stories

Ipswich school triggers inquiry into ‘pupil aged 30’

November 24, 2018 adminaged, inquiry, Ipswich, pupil, school, triggers0 comment

Image caption The Home Office is investigating how a man, possibly aged in his 30s, could have joined Stoke High School in Ipswich An adult asylum seeker who posed as a 15-year-old student is being investigated by the government. The Home Office confirmed it will be looking into how the man, who could be as old as 30, was allowed to join Stoke High School in Ipswich. An age assessment carried out by the local authority found the individual to be over 18, meaning he could now face deportation. The…

Top stories

Truth Project: Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry calls for younger participants

November 24, 2018 adminabuse, calls, child, inquiry, participants, project, sexual, truth, younger0 comment

Image copyright Getty Images Lucie was 10 when she was first sexually abused. She was groomed online before she ever met her abuser in person. “The conversation might slightly change one day to talk about sexual things, and then it might be talking about sending sexual photos,” she tells Newsbeat. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse wants more people like Lucie – not her real name – to come forward with their stories. It wants to hear from younger survivors of child sexual abuse to be able to give…

Top stories

Grenfell Inquiry: Kitchen fire spread to cladding in 10 minutes

November 20, 2018 admincladding, fire, Grenfell, inquiry, Kitchen, Minutes, spread0 comment

Image copyright AFP/Getty The advice for Grenfell Tower residents to stay in their flats should have been reconsidered once the fire reached the outside, which took just 10 minutes. The Grenfell Inquiry heard the small kitchen fire broke out through a uPVC window fitting, igniting the cladding. Professor Jose Torero, a fire safety expert, said from that moment “the stay-put strategy was compromised” and evacuation should have been considered. The disaster, in west London on 14 June 2017, killed 72 people. Prof Torero’s report for the inquiry said the blaze…

Top stories

Grenfell inquiry: 12-year-old victim pleaded for fire crews to hurry

November 19, 2018 admin12yearold, crews, fire, Grenfell, hurry, inquiry, pleaded, victim0 comment

Image copyright Metropolitan Police Image caption Jessica Urbano Ramirez was described as ‘loving, kind-hearted and caring’ A 12-year-old girl who died in the Grenfell Tower blaze begged firefighters to hurry up in a 999 call and was told they were on their way. The inquiry into the fire, which killed 72 people in June 2017, heard Jessica Urbano Ramirez had left her flat on the 20th floor. She went up three more floors in the 24-storey block in west London. Jessica repeatedly asked London Fire Brigade control room officer Sarah…

Top stories

Grenfell Inquiry: residents given ‘wrong’ advice by 999 staff

November 13, 2018 adminAdvice, Grenfell, inquiry, residents, staff, wrong0 comment

Image copyright Getty Images A Grenfell Tower resident was told to remain in their flat, despite the fire brigade having ordered everyone to evacuate 15 minutes earlier. Emergency staff taking calls from residents in the tower on the night of the 14 June fire were unaware advice had been changed, the inquiry heard. Richard Millett QC said the control room operator “had not yet been given the message”. Other residents also received different advice on whether to stay or go. Seventy two people died as a result of the catastrophic…

Top stories

Grenfell Tower inquiry: ‘Don’t give up’, dad told in 999 call

November 9, 2018 admincall, dad, dont, give, Grenfell, inquiry, told, Tower0 comment

Image caption Marcio Gomes escaped the fire with his wife, Andreia, and two daughters – but his unborn baby died A father trapped with his family in Grenfell Tower was told “don’t give up” by a 999 call operator as they tried to escape the blaze. Marcio Gomes, his heavily-pregnant wife Andreia, and the couple’s two daughters, escaped from their flat, which was on the 21st floor. But their unborn son Logan was stillborn in hospital after the fire. An audio clip of the family’s 999 call – as they…