The Metropolitan Police Service is considering launching a third investigation into potential crimes related to the Post Office scandal. Subpostmaster campaigner Alan Bates has stated that if the police do not take action, he and other campaigners will raise funds for private prosecutions. During a meeting with Metropolitan Police officials, Bates was informed that they were looking into the matter and considering launching an investigation.
Bates had previously written to Metropolitan Police commissioner Mark Rowley seeking clarification on their actions before pursuing private prosecutions. The Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, led by Bates, is prepared to raise the necessary funds for private prosecutions if needed. This follows previous investigations by the Met Police into possible perjury by tech executives at Fujitsu and the Post Office’s recovery of phantom losses from prosecuted subpostmasters.
The ongoing scandal, first exposed by Computer Weekly in 2009, has led to overturned convictions for six former subpostmasters based on evidence from the flawed Horizon system. Campaigners are hopeful that legislation to overturn convictions en masse will be passed before Parliament is prorogued.