Police are now actively considering charges of corporate manslaughter as part of their sweeping criminal investigation into the Post Office Horizon scandal. The probe, which is examining one of the most profound miscarriages of justice in British legal history, has been significantly widened.
Investigation Expands to More Suspects
The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) confirmed on Monday 1 December 2025 that the inquiry has been expanded to include an additional suspect and more "persons of interest". This development follows a formal interview under caution of a further individual, bringing the total number of people interviewed in this manner to five.
The total number of suspects in the case now stands at eight. The pool of persons of interest has grown to 53 individuals, up from what was previously described as "about 45 people plus". While none have been publicly named, the NPCC has previously indicated that this group encompasses Post Office investigators, in-house lawyers, and management figures from both the Post Office and Fujitsu, the company that created the faulty Horizon accounting software.
Focus on Perjury and Perverting Justice
The national police team, known as Operation Olympos, continues to focus on potential offences of perjury and perverting the course of justice. Investigators are sifting through millions of documents as part of their work.
Material relating to some suspects has already been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The NPCC stated this process will continue until prosecutors "have sufficient material to allow them to make a final charging decision". Notably, no arrests have been made to date, with police stating this was "not necessary given the way we interview and use additional warrants where necessary".
Appeal to Victims with NDAs
In a related move, police have appealed directly to victims of the scandal who may have signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with the Post Office. They are urging these individuals to come forward and speak to officers. The NPCC has obtained written confirmation that these NDAs will no longer be enforced, removing a potential barrier for victims wishing to assist the investigation.
This latest announcement follows update sessions provided to the hundreds of victims—sub-postmasters and postmistresses who were wrongfully convicted of theft and false accounting due to errors in the Horizon IT system. The criminal investigation began in parallel with the ongoing public inquiry into the scandal.
