The criminal probe into the Post Office Horizon IT scandal risks stalling for half a decade unless £6 million in emergency funding is secured, police chiefs have warned. Senior officers from the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police told Whitehall officials on Tuesday that without the injection, the investigation—already two years behind schedule—could be delayed until at least 2030.
Detective Chief Superintendent David Gray, who leads the inquiry team, said the financial shortfall would cripple efforts to interview key witnesses, secure digital evidence, and pursue charges against former executives. "Every month of inaction erodes the prospect of justice for over 900 subpostmasters wrongfully prosecuted," Gray told reporters. "This isn’t just about resources—it’s about restoring faith in a system that failed them."
💡 Pro Tip
Police sources say the £6 million request is separate from the £12 million already allocated for Horizon-related prosecutions. Funding must be ring-fenced to avoid bureaucratic delays.
The Metropolitan Police’s financial assessment, seen by this newspaper, projects that the inquiry will require an additional £2.4 million annually through 2029 to maintain momentum. City of London Police, which is assisting with forensic accounting, estimates that without this, critical digital forensics—including Horizon’s flawed software logs—could become inadmissible in court due to evidentiary decay.
Key Points
- ⚠️ £6m funding gap risks stalling Horizon probe until 2030
- 🔍 Detective Chief Superintendent David Gray warns of worsening justice delays
- 💻 Digital evidence decay threatens admissibility in court if funding is delayed
Whitehall insiders confirm that the Treasury has not yet approved the request, with discussions stalled over concerns about precedent-setting costs for historical investigations. A Home Office spokesperson declined to comment on the funding negotiations but acknowledged the "complexity" of balancing current and legacy cases.
📋 By The Numbers
- 900+ Subpostmasters wrongfully prosecuted due to Horizon flaws
- 2 years Current delay in the criminal investigation
- £12m Already allocated for Horizon-related prosecutions
The Horizon scandal erupted in 2019 after an ITV investigation revealed that Fujitsu’s accounting software had miscalculated shortfalls in branch accounts, leading to hundreds of prosecutions for theft and fraud. While the government issued a blanket pardon for affected subpostmasters in 2024, criminal liability for former Post Office executives and Fujitsu employees remains unaddressed. The Serious Fraud Office confirmed it is "monitoring developments" but has not yet opened a formal investigation.
| Aspect | Current Status | With £6m Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Witness Interviews | 30% incomplete | 80% completion by 2026 |
| Digital Forensics | Evidence decay at 15% per year | Stabilized at 5% decay annually |
| Charges Filed | 0 | Anticipated by 2027 |
Former subpostmaster Alan Bates, whose campaign exposed the scandal, called the funding delay "an insult to the victims." Bates, who received an apology and £600,000 compensation in 2023, told this newspaper: "They’ve already taken years from us. Now they’re taking justice itself."
- Immediate — Treasury must approve £6m within 60 days to prevent further delays
- Short-term — Metropolitan Police to prioritize digital evidence preservation
- Long-term — Serious Fraud Office urged to escalate criminal charges against executives
The Metropolitan Police’s financial assessment includes a breakdown of costs: £2.1m for additional staff, £1.8m for forensic IT upgrades, and £2.1m for legal fees tied to evidence preservation. City of London Police’s forensic unit has warned that without these upgrades, key Horizon logs—central to the investigation—could degrade beyond recovery within 18 months.
- 🚨 18-month window critical to prevent irreversible evidence loss
- 💸 £6m request is separate from £12m already earmarked for prosecutions
- ⚖️ Home Office must resolve funding impasse to avoid systemic justice failures
Former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells, who faces potential misconduct charges, remains under scrutiny but has not been interviewed as part of the criminal probe. Her legal team has repeatedly delayed engagements, citing "ongoing civil proceedings." Meanwhile, Fujitsu has pledged £700,000 toward the investigation but has not committed to covering operational shortfalls.
The scandal’s fallout continues to widen: in March, the government announced a public inquiry into the Post Office’s handling of whistleblowers, with findings expected by 2026. Separately, the Department for Business and Trade has launched an audit of all government contracts with Fujitsu, following revelations that the company continued supplying Horizon software to other public bodies despite known flaws.