The criminal investigation into the Post Office Horizon scandal faces potential delays of up to five years unless additional funding is secured, police officials have said. Commander Stephen Clayman, who leads the national police inquiry known as Operation Olympo, warned that the investigation team would need to nearly double in size—from 111 to 210 officers—to meet projected deadlines for submitting files to prosecutors.
Commander Clayman indicated that to prepare charging decisions by late 2027 or early 2028, the team requires a budget estimated at £19.3 million for 2026-27 and beyond. However, the Home Office has so far provided a special grant of £2.8 million, leaving a shortfall of approximately £16.5 million. The financial gap risks slowing progress in a case that has deeply affected hundreds of victims over more than two decades.
In a statement following an update given to victims, Clayman emphasized the urgency of the inquiry. “Many of the victims have been living with the impact of this for 24 years, some have already died and many more are reaching older age,” he said. “We do not have the luxury of time and must provide answers as soon as possible to those who desperately deserve them.”
The investigation stems from a long-running scandal over miscarriages of justice linked to the Horizon computer system used by the Post Office. Dozens of subpostmasters were wrongly accused and convicted of theft and false accounting due to errors in the software. The inquiry aims to establish criminal culpability and bring those responsible to account. Clayman noted that the threshold for criminal charges is high, and investigators must be confident the evidence they present meets prosecutorial standards.
A government spokesperson confirmed that the Home Office has provided a total of £3.2 million since 2023 for Operation Olympo and is currently reviewing requests for further funding. The outcome of the inquiry remains critical for victims seeking justice after years of hardship stemming from the flawed Horizon system.