‘Fake credentials’ of Grenfell assessor: Fire risk consultant who downplayed safety concerns invented his qualifications, inquiry hears
- Carl Stokes insisted the Grenfell tower block cladding compiled with regulations when the London Fire Brigade raised concerns just two months before the fire
- Inquiry heard he ‘invented’ a series of letters after his name on risk assessments
- Mr Stokes, an ex-fireman, 61, was paid £250,000 over seven years as consultant
A fire risk assessor who repeatedly downplayed safety concerns at Grenfell Tower had invented his qualifications, an inquiry into the disaster was told yesterday.
Carl Stokes was accused of a series of ‘lamentable’ failures before the 2017 inferno that killed 72 people in the 24-storey block.
When the London Fire Brigade raised concerns just two months before the blaze, Mr Stokes insisted that the building’s disastrous cladding complied with regulations.
The inquiry into the Grenfell tower (pictured) tragedy has heard that a fire risk assessor downplayed safety concerns about the block’s cladding and had invented his qualifications
The inquiry heard how he ‘invented’ a series of letters after his name on fire risk assessments and falsely implied he was on a register of assessors.
The ex-fireman, 61, was paid £250,000 over seven years as a consultant for the local tenant management organisation.
Witnesses to the inquiry yesterday cited an expert report carried out by Dr Barbara Lane that draws attention to how Mr Stokes had ‘contributed to a culture of ignoring warnings’ from residents.
The Fire Brigades Union yesterday told the inquiry that Mr Stokes had ‘substantially failed’ to consider an evacuation plan for the tower’s at-risk residents.
The inquiry heard Mr Stokes had ‘contributed to a culture of ignoring warnings’ from residents
On Monday, lawyers for the bereaved and survivors of the blaze told the inquiry that the former Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service worker’s risk assessments were ‘were simply not acceptable’.
It came as Sadiq Khan said that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s dismissal of ‘prophetic complaints’ by Grenfell residents before the fire was a disgrace.
Lawyers for the Mayor of London said that appalling issues at the tower had been overlooked, further accusing the council of manipulating its complaints system against residents.
Speaking on behalf of Mr Khan, Anne Studd QC said: ‘The conduct of the TMO towards the residents of Grenfell Tower demonstrates a total failure in ensuring that Grenfell Tower was a safe place to live.’