Recommendation P2-56: Clarify casualty bureau purpose and limitations
From Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Phase 2 Report, published 4 September 2024.
Recommendation
In future, to avoid confusion, wasted effort and frustration we also recommend that what in the past has been called by the police a “casualty bureau” be described in a way that makes it clear that it does not provide information to the public about people affected by the emergency. (113.78)
In brief (written by this site)
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reported in September 2026 that this recommendation is complete and has been fully discharged (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). The department previously confirmed in February 2026 that the National Police Chiefs' Council had delivered the recommendation to make clear that casualty bureaus do not provide information to the public about people affected by emergencies (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Feb 2026). In February 2025, the council accepted the recommendation and stated it was fully discharged, having updated standard operating procedures and worked with communication leads and local government to ensure clear public messaging (National Police Chiefs' Council response, Feb 2025).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) accepts this recommendation. The NPCC has been working to discharge a similar recommendation made in 2018 by the Kerslake independent review of the Manchester Arena bombing. It has updated the standard operating procedures for the casualty bureau and will continue to assure delivery against them. Although the casualty bureau will continue to be known as such, the NPCC has worked with force communication leads on how to clearly describe the functions of a casualty bureau and is working with local government to ensure that communications in the event of a critical incident are clear to the public. The recommendation has been fully discharged.
How this response relates to the recommendation
Site note: This is the government's response to the Phase 2 report (CP 1248, published 26 February 2025). It prints each recommendation and then the response to it. Where the recommendation is addressed to a body outside government, the response prints that body's own acceptance (the Architects Registration Board and RIBA, HMICFRS, London Fire Brigade, the National Fire Chiefs Council, the British Standards Institution, the National Police Chiefs' Council), and the row is filed under that body.
Delivery
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government says completed (10 September 2026)
This recommendation is complete and has been fully discharged.
Site note: This is the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's progress report of September 2026 on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations. Where the passage describes work by another body, such as the National Fire Chiefs Council, London Fire Brigade, fire and rescue services, the British Standards Institution or the Cabinet Office, it is the Ministry's account of that body's progress, and the row is filed under the Ministry.
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (25 February 2026)
As set out in our February 2025 response, the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) have delivered this recommendation to make clear that the casualty bureau does not provide information to the public about people affected by emergencies.
This recommendation is complete and has been fully discharged.
Site note: This is the annex of the government's Phase 2 annual report (CP 1512, published 25 February 2026) as GOV.UK publishes it, one page per theme: the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's account. Where the passage describes work by another body, such as the National Fire Chiefs Council, London Fire Brigade, the British Standards Institution, the Health and Safety Executive or the Cabinet Office, it is the report's account of that body's progress, and the row is filed under the Ministry. The status is what the passage says: completed only where it says the recommendation is complete or closed.
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- National Police Chiefs Council
Response - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Delivery statement