Police investigation into Post Office Horizon scandal could face five-year delay

A national police investigation into the Post Office Horizon scandal faces a potential five-year delay if it does not receive millions in additional funding. Police chiefs say the team must nearly double from 111 to 210 officers to submit charging decisions to prosecutors by late next year or early 2028. A £2.8 million special grant from the Home Office is not enough, leaving a projected £16.5 million shortfall against a budget of up to £19.3 million for 2026/27 and beyond. Investigators have met victims to provide progress updates and explain challenges. The inquiry is described as highly complex, with eight million documents requiring forensic review. So far this year, seven more suspects have been interviewed under caution, bringing the total questioned to 13 of 53.

"Commander Stephen Clayman, leading the national police inquiry, said the team must nearly double from 111 to 210 officers to submit charging decisions to prosecutors by late next year or early 2028. Despite a 2.8 million special grant from the Home Office, the projected budget of up to 19.3 million "for 2026/27 and beyond" leaves a 16.5 million shortfall."

"Our ongoing priority remains to deliver justice for victims and families affected by the Post Office Horizon scandal. Earlier today, we met with victims to provide an update on our investigation, outline the progress made so far and explain some of the challenges we are facing. Many of these victims have been living with the impact of this for 24 years, some have already died and many more are reaching older age."

"Put simply, we do not have the luxury of time and must provide answers as soon as possible to those who so desperately deserve them. So far this year, police have interviewed seven more suspects under caution, meaning 13 out of 53 people under investigation have been questioned."

"Mr Clayman said the inquiry is hugely complex, with eight million documents and counting needing to be forensically reviewed. Only by doing this can we piece together exactly what happened, establish who knew what and understand the role suspects may have played, he said. As we have always said, the threshold to bring criminal charges is high, so we must be confident that the evidence we present to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has the best possible chance of"

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