Inquiry into Post Office Horizon scandal faces five-year delay without extra funding
Summary
The police investigation into the Post Office Horizon IT scandal faces a delay of up to five years unless it receives nearly £16.5 million more in funding and additional staff. The inquiry aims to review documents and evidence to decide if criminal charges are warranted against those responsible for wrongful prosecutions caused by faulty accounting software.Key Facts
- The police need to nearly double investigators from 111 to 210 to meet the current deadline around late 2027 or early 2028.
- The Home Office has provided £2.8 million, but the total budget needed is £19.3 million, leaving a £16.5 million gap.
- The Horizon software, made by Fujitsu, wrongly flagged over 900 post office operators as fraudsters from 1999 to 2015.
- The scandal is described as one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history and was featured in an ITV drama.
- The police investigation, known as Operation Olympos, involves reviewing 8 million documents and interviewing suspects about possible perjury and obstruction of justice.
- So far, 13 out of 53 suspects have been questioned, and some case files have been shared with prosecutors for early advice.
- Family members affected by the scandal will be able to claim compensation under a new government scheme announced in 2024.
- The full findings of a public inquiry into the scandal have not yet been published; the next part is expected to focus on software flaws and wrongful prosecutions.
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