Post Office, IT and legal bosses could be probed over Horizon tragedies

Sir Wyn's report highlighted the case of Martin Griffiths, 59, who stepped in front of a bus in 2013 after Fujitsu’s faulty software suggested his branch in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, had shortfalls of £100,000.

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BY SOPHIE HUSKISSON

Political Correspondent

POLICE are considering corporate manslaughter charges as part of their probe into the Post Office Horizon scandal, it emerged yesterday

Around 13 people are believed to have taken their own lives in connection with the scandal, a report from the Post Office inquiry said in July.

Thousands more postmasters lost their livelihoods and savings after they were wrongly accused of stealing money from the Post Office where they worked.

The National Police Chiefs' Council yesterday said its investigation into the scandal is considering corporate and gross negligence manslaughter charges.

It said they will continue to focus on potential charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice.

The offence of corporate manslaughter ensures companies and other organisations can be held properly accountable for very serious failings resulting in death.

Christopher Head, who became Britain's youngest subpostmaster at just 18 in 2006, said: "It is an important step towards justice that those responsible for causing the harm to thousands of victims, their families and those who are sadly no longer with us are held to account.