Artist colleagues of Khadija Saye demand swift justice for her and all Grenfell victims | Letter

How many days have now passed since the horrific night of Wednesday 14 June, when at least 79 were killed in London’s Grenfell Tower fire? In that time, how many incriminating emails and documents may have been deleted or shredded? We are concerned that, up until now, and as far as we are aware, there have been no arrests, seizure of documents, sealing of offices or freezing of accounts. It took two days for arrests to be made in the 2004 Morecambe Bay disaster, and one day only in the 2012 Costa Concordia sinking. Both led to successful prosecutions.

We artists and curators, colleagues of the gifted photographer Khadija Saye, who worked with her in the Diaspora Pavilion in Venice this year, were devastated to learn that our treasured and beloved sister was killed in the Grenfell fire (Report, 17 June), along with her mother Mary Mendy. We were heartened by the bravery and skill of the emergency services, as well as the outpouring of love and support from citizen volunteers – including those from among our number who were traumatised as they sought to help Khadija, her family and neighbours in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.

This apparently predictable inferno has caused considerable grief and suffering. From the multiple reports of previous warnings, criminal culpability appears to be at the root of this entirely preventable tragedy. To forestall the danger of obstruction and to maximise the likelihood of a successful prosecution, a robust, transparent, criminal investigation needs to be pursued and must include the following: swift collection of all evidence; sealing of offices; seizure of documents; freezing of accounts; and the swift arrest of suspects.

In solidarity with the local residents, the Fire Brigades Union and others, we are resolute that action be delayed no further. This must happen now to avoid repeating the legal travesties and the long-suffering pain caused to those involved in the Hillsborough and Stephen Lawrence scandals. We demand immediate action in pursuit of justice for all those killed in the Grenfell Tower fire. Anybody supportive of these aims can sign our petition at change.org.
Larry Achiampong, Barby Asante, Libita Clayton, Kimathi Donkor, Ray Fiasco, Michael Forbes, Joy Gregory, Susan Pui San Lok, Paul Maheke, Erika Tan, Barbara Walker, Abbas Zahedi (all Diaspora Pavilion artists), Sokari Douglas Camp, Ellen Gallagher, Isaac Julien, Dave Lewis, Hew Locke, Claire Oboussier, Vong Phaophanit (all Diaspora Pavilion artists and mentors), Jessica Taylor (Diaspora Pavilion curator), Gabria Lupone (Diaspora Pavilion assistant curator), Lucy Cartledge, Izzy Castro (Diaspora Pavilion team), Kat Anderson, Lisa Anderson, Enam Gbewonyo, Annie Jael Kwan, Sooree Pillay, Sunil Shah, Armindokht Shooshtari, Cynthia Silveira, Katarzyna Sobucka (Beyond the Frame curators), Paul Goodwin, Skinder Hundal, Melanie Keen, Allison Thompson, Zoe Whitley (Beyond the Frame mentors), Adelaide Bannerman (Beyond the Frame team)

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