A former Grenfell Tower resident has said the community’s frustration is turning to anger with the lack of change prompted by the fire which killed 72 people six years ago.
Exactly 72 months ago – one month for each live lost – the west London tower block became a scene of devastation as plumes of smoke rose into the capital’s sky and pictures were beamed on news channels around the world.
Edward Daffarn said what should have been a “catalyst for societal change” on 14 June, 2017 has instead been reacted to with “incompetence and indifference and inaction”.
Mr Daffarn lived on the 16th floor and had long campaigned on safety issues at the tower, predicting the fire in a blog post seven months before it happened.
In an interview with the PA news agency, he said that six years later “the kind of frustration that we felt at the lack of change since Grenfell is beginning to really kind of manifest and ferment into kind of anger”.
He said: “Not only can I speak for myself individually, but I think I can speak on behalf of Grenfell United, of which I’m a committee member.
“In the days after the fire as I was standing underneath the wreck of Grenfell I was pretty convinced that Grenfell would become the catalyst for societal change, that things would not be the same as they were before Grenfell, as a result of Grenfell.”
He branded the lack of criminal justice in relation to the fire not only unsatisfactory but also “abusive”.
He said: “To date, there hasn’t been a single arrest. Not a single clink of handcuffs for any of the perpetrators of the fire. And I know it’s a cliche but, you know, justice delayed is justice denied. And we can’t go on for much longer without people being held to account. And it feels very abusive, it feels very unsatisfactory.”
‘We must never forget’
Former prime minister Theresa May tweeted to mark the anniversary: “Today marks six years since the devastating fire at Grenfell Tower.
“We must never forget all those who lost their lives, or allow the circumstances that led to their deaths to happen ever again.
“My thoughts and prayers are with all their families and loved ones.”
On Wednesday evening the annual silent walk will take place in memory of those who died, with people encouraged to wear green to show they “stand united in the fight for justice”.
Read more:
‘Post-Grenfell cladding scandal left me penniless’
More than 900 agree civil settlement
Gove names and shames developers
A film featuring local artists, volunteers and supporters of the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission has also been created to mark the anniversary and the community projects which have brought people together since the tragedy.
Representatives said: “We are here to create a memorial that our community has been at the forefront of, to remember and to honour the loved ones who can no longer be with us.
“Our film recognises some of the community members behind some of the incredibly special projects that, since 14 June 2017, have been helping to bring people together to recover through creation.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: “Our thoughts are with the bereaved families, survivors and residents as they remember those who lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower tragedy.”
A debate will take place in the House of Commons in the coming weeks which is expected to include an update on the action government is taking in the areas of social housing, building safety and wider reform.
