The Metropolitan Police has closed its investigation into the fire that devastated the Spectrum Building in Dagenham on 26 August, confirming that no criminal evidence has been found.
The blaze, which led to more than 80 people losing their homes and two individuals being taken to hospital, was initially investigated for potential criminal activity. However, detectives working alongside the London Fire Brigade (LFB) found no indication that the fire was started deliberately.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “Detectives have been working closely with London Fire Brigade to establish the cause of a fire on Freshwater Road, Dagenham. A number of enquiries have been carried out. No evidence has been found that the fire was started deliberately and the criminal investigation has been closed.”
Despite the police’s conclusion, investigations by the London Fire Brigade and the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) are ongoing and could take several months to complete. A spokesperson from the Health and Safety Executive said: “A joint investigation with the London Fire Brigade is ongoing. The criminal investigation covers both our role as the BSR and matters that fall under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Building Safety Act 2022. We will continue to work closely with LFB throughout this process.”
Sarah Williams, a former resident of the Spectrum Building, expressed relief that the fire was not deliberate but voiced concerns over building safety. “There will have been a legacy of poor decisions and actions that led to the fire being that destructive. I now face months of waiting to find out who and what caused this,” she said. “How many other residents in blocks of flats will have to experience homelessness and trauma before the government takes proper action to make sure these flats are resilient to fire and don’t burn down?”
The BSR’s ongoing investigation is focusing on the cladding remediation work that was in progress when the fire broke out, as well as the responsibilities of the principal accountable person under Part 4 of the Building Safety Act concerning the spread of fire.
The seven-storey Spectrum Building, which had known fire safety issues, was undergoing cladding remediation work at the time of the fire. The building was covered in scaffolding, and residents had raised concerns about wooden decking on balconies and broken fire doors as early as 2018.
The building’s destruction prompted Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner to call for accelerated remediation plans, while Fire Brigades Union General Secretary Matt Wrack described it as an example of the “national scandal of flammable cladding and deregulation in the building industry.”
Former residents of the Spectrum Building are currently living in temporary accommodation provided by Barking and Dagenham Council, despite the building being privately owned. The current freeholder, Arinium, took over ownership in 2020, with Block Management UK as the managing agent.
Built in 1974 as an office, the Spectrum Building was converted into flats in the late 2010s, with additional storeys supported by a timber frame, along with solar panels and a roof deck. At the time of the fire, it contained 60 flats, two commercial units, and a gym.
Planning permission had been granted in May 2023 for the removal of cladding on the fifth and sixth floors, replacement with compliant cladding, and removal of window spandrel panels and balcony privacy screens. Work was set to begin in June 2023 and finish by December, but in August, cladding manufacturer Valcan confirmed that the work was ongoing.
The London Fire Brigade has been approached for further comment on its investigation.
