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In a recent update on the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, it has been disclosed that criminal trials pertaining to the case may not commence until the year 2028. The head of the investigation, Met Cdr Stephen Clayman, emphasized the importance of meticulous work and attention to detail, highlighting the progress being made. Currently, there are seven identified suspects in the investigation, with an additional 45 to 50 potential suspects under consideration. However, the files will not be handed over to prosecutors until the final report from the public inquiry is released later this year.
Former sub-postmaster Tim Brentnall expressed the desperation felt by victims awaiting some form of accountability, though he stressed the need for a thorough and proper investigation by the police. The Horizon IT system, launched in 1999, wrongfully attributed discrepancies in Post Office branches to sub-postmasters, leading to over 900 prosecutions and wrongful imprisonments. Legislation passed last year sought to overturn these convictions en masse, prompting the launch of Operation Olympos in 2020, which has since made progress with interviews conducted in 2021.
Cdr Clayman disclosed that the focus of the investigation initially centered on individuals directly involved in the scandal, such as Post Office investigators and solicitors. However, efforts are now being shifted towards examining wider management roles, a process that is expected to take considerable time. With the final report set to be published by Sir Wyn Williams in July, the police will meticulously review its contents before submitting files to the Crown Prosecution Service for potential trials, likely to begin no earlier than 2028. Despite the delays, Cdr Clayman acknowledged the frustration felt by victims of the scandal and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation process.
Reflecting on the challenges faced by sub-postmasters, Tim Brentnall recounted his wrongful prosecution in 2010 and subsequent exoneration in 2021. He criticized the hasty and unjust proceedings undertaken by the Post Office, urging the police to conduct a thorough investigation at their own pace. Legal representative David Enright echoed Brentnall’s sentiment, denouncing the lack of urgency in holding accountable those responsible for the injustices faced by sub-postmasters. With a team of 108 officers working on Operation Olympos across different regions, the investigation continues with a vast amount of evidence to sift through. Despite initial delays in information sharing, both the Post Office and Fujitsu have since been cooperating with the ongoing police inquiry
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