Around 33 Metropolitan Police officers are taking legal action against various defendants, including the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and the London Fire Brigade, seeking compensation for psychiatric injuries sustained during the Grenfell Tower disaster.
Around 33 Metropolitan Police officers are involved in taking legal action for compensation due to “psychiatric injuries” sustained during the Grenfell Tower disaster. This group, led by PC Martin Hart, is pursuing claims against a total of 12 defendants, including the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and the London Fire Brigade. These officers, some of whom were first responders and others tasked with searching the remains of the building, are seeking compensation for the trauma experienced during the incident. The potential settlement for this group, which is still under discussion, could amount to millions of pounds.
This legal move has generated mixed reactions, especially among the survivors and families of the victims, with some expressing frustration. PC Hart, who has been unable to return to work due to the trauma, exemplifies the personal toll the disaster has continued to take on those involved in the immediate response and subsequent investigations.
The action by the Metropolitan Police officers follows earlier settlements, including a £20 million compensation for over 100 firefighters by the London Fire Brigade and a significant £150 million settlement awarded to the survivors and bereaved families of the Grenfell Tower tragedy last year. These legal proceedings highlight the extensive and ongoing impact of the fire on June 14, 2017, which resulted in 72 fatalities.
As of now, a court date has not been set for the officers’ claims, and no settlements have been reached. The Metropolitan Police has clarified that the claims are being directed towards other parties responsible for the building’s management and refurbishment, thus separating these claims from those made by survivors and bereaved families. With legal discussions set to continue until at least December 2024, the issue underscores the broad spectrum of consequences following one of the UK’s most tragic fires in recent history.