12:27

London Fire Brigade and its senior officers are facing a police investigation over the “stay put” policy which resulted in Grenfell Tower residents being told to remain inside their homes, Scotland Yard said today.

Detectives are attempting to establish whether the order - issued as the tower block blazed in June last year - could have breached health and safety law.

In a statement to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the Brigade has said its personnel were placed in “intolerable positions” during the fire, and would have been unaware of any defects caused by refurbishment of the 24-storey building.

Detective Superintendent Matt Bonner, who is leading the police investigation, said also that 36 companies and organisations that had been involved in the construction, refurbishment, maintenance and management of the building were now of particular interest.

So far, two organisations - the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation - are known to be under investigation as corporate manslaughter suspects.

Police also disclosed that eight men and one women were arrested this morning for questioning over alleged fraud, having obtained money and services ranging from £25,000 to £100,000 after claiming to be survivors of the fire.

