Police are contemplating the possibility of bringing corporate manslaughter charges as part of their investigation into the Post Office Horizon scandal. A report from the Post Office inquiry revealed that around 13 individuals are believed to have died by suicide in connection to the scandal, causing immense distress. The inquiry also found that numerous postmasters lost their jobs and savings, facing social ostracism due to false accusations of theft from the Post Office where they were employed.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) announced that their ongoing inquiry into the scandal now includes the consideration of corporate manslaughter charges. Additionally, the NPCC emphasized that they are continuing to focus on potential charges of perjury and obstructing justice. Corporate manslaughter was established as a charge to ensure that organizations can be held accountable for severe failings leading to loss of life.
The investigation, described as “unprecedented” in scale, involves potentially over 3,000 victims and a vast amount of evidence exceeding 1.5 million documents. Expected criminal trials linked to the investigation are not anticipated until 2027. An update provided to victims by the NPCC revealed that there are eight named suspects, with five already interviewed under caution. Currently, there are 53 individuals of interest involved in the investigation, with no arrests made yet as the process of compiling case file material for the Crown Prosecution Service continues.
Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 subpostmasters were prosecuted as a result of errors in Fujitsu’s account system, falsely implicating them in financial misconduct. Lead campaigner Alan Bates, who successfully led 555 subpostmasters to victory in the High Court in 2019, has persistently called for accountability for those responsible for the scandal.
Investigators are scrutinizing individuals from the Post Office, Fujitsu, and the legal profession in their pursuit of justice. The battle for justice gained prominence after the airing of ITV’s drama “Mr Bates Vs The Post Office,” shedding light on what is widely regarded as one of the most egregious miscarriages of justice in British legal history. The Post Office inquiry estimates that approximately 1,000 people were prosecuted and convicted based on data from the flawed Horizon system.