The forensic investigation of Grenfell Tower has been completed and the site is no longer a crime scene, the Metropolitan Police have announced.
An independent site management team is now in charge of the tower where 71 people died in the blaze. The team, led by Doug Patterson, Chief Executive of the London Borough of Bromley, will take charge of security as well as health and safety.
In a U-turn of previous policy, the government will now take direct responsibility for the Grenfell Tower site, rather the original plan to give it to the building’s owners, Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council.
Handing back the site to the council created huge local objections from the community.
Since the one-year anniversary of the fire, the tower’s charred shell has been covered with white sheeting and banners with the green Grenfell heart emblazoned around the top.
A final decision about the future of the tower is due in Autumn, with Theresa May promising that the Grenfell community will have a say in what happens next on the site.
The tower is expected to be demolished and replaced with a memorial to the 72 people who died in the fire in June last year.
Metropolitan Police commander Stuart Cundy, said: “In the six months following the fire, one of our key priorities was to recover, identify and return all those who tragically died to their families.
“From the outset, we have also been relentless in our investigations at the tower.
“I recognise that releasing the tower as a crime scene is a significant milestone and we have updated bereaved families and survivors that whilst our work on the site is now complete, our large and complex police investigation continues.
He added: “Simply put, we have everything we need from the tower.”
A public inquiry into the fire is still ongoing, with harrowing tales of the night being retold by firefighters and residents.
Since the disaster, high-rises across the country have found to breach fire-safety regulations. Five fire doors had to be taken off the market this week when they were found to be inadequate.