Authorities are currently examining 45 individuals in connection with possible offenses in the Post Office scandal, with seven individuals formally identified as suspects so far.
Operation Olympos, the national police investigation established by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the Metropolitan Police, aims to uncover the truth behind the wrongful prosecution of subpostmasters in the Horizon system debacle. This widespread miscarriage of justice has affected numerous individuals who lost their livelihoods and faced unjust convictions for financial crimes.
The investigative team, consisting of 100 officers from various regions, has reviewed over six million documents after originally starting with 1.5 million. The number of documents and suspects is expected to increase as the investigation progresses, according to a statement from the NPCC.
Commander Stephen Clayman, leading Operation Olympos, emphasized the importance of prioritizing the victims in this investigation. The team’s focus remains on establishing the truth and ensuring justice prevails for those affected by the Post Office Horizon scandal.
Despite the challenges posed by the volume of material to review and inquiries to conduct, progress is being made in identifying and questioning suspects. The investigation is set to delve deeper into potential offenses beyond perjury and perverting the course of justice, with a focus on individuals involved in subpostmaster prosecutions.
The possibility of investigating the Post Office itself for fraud related to the repayment policy imposed on subpostmasters has not been ruled out. Former Post Office CEO Nick Read revealed that around £36 million was taken from subpostmasters between 1999 and 2015 due to enforced repayments for non-existent shortfalls.
The investigation is not limited to specific individuals or crimes, with the scope extending to the Post Office, Fujitsu, and potentially other entities over a span of more than two decades. The pursuit of justice will not be hindered by boundaries as the evidence guides the investigation forward.
The genesis of the Post Office scandal dates back to 2009, as initially uncovered by Computer Weekly. The plight of subpostmasters affected by accounting discrepancies caused by the Horizon system sparked public outcry and eventually led to the launch of Operation Olympos by the Metropolitan Police.
