Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe criminal investigation into the Post Office Horizon scandal faces a potential five-year delay without an additional £16.5 million in funding. Police chiefs warn that the investigation team needs to nearly double from 111 to 210 officers to submit charging decisions by late 2027 or early 2028. Commander Stephen Clayman highlighted the inquiry's "hugely complex" nature, involving the forensic review of eight million documents. Despite a recent £2.8 million special grant from the Home Office, the projected budget of up to £19.3 million for 2026/27 and beyond has a significant shortfall. Investigators emphasised the urgency of delivering justice for victims, many of whom have suffered for 24 years, with some having already died. In fullWarning issued as police investigation into Post Office Horizon scandal could face five-year delayThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Commander Stephen Clayman said the inquiry is “hugely complex”, with eight million documents and counting needing to be forensically reviewed

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Around 1,000 branch managers were prosecuted, 236 went to jail, and thousands more were wrongly accused over shortfalls in their tills caused by the faulty Horizon system.