Detectives have been given an extra ￡4million to continue a long-running investigation into the death of 456 patients given powerful painkillers at a hospital.
Officers working on Operation Magenta have identified 29 suspects in what has been described as one of the largest and most complex investigations in British criminal history.
But news of the fresh funding has raised fears of further “delays” in bringing justice to those impacted by the deaths between 1987 and 2001.
The patients were prescribed the drugs at Gosport War Memorial Hospital in Hampshire.
Lawyers representing the victims’ families have urged police to wrap up the case while they are still alive.
Don't miss... Spanish painkiller linked to deaths of 37 Brit expats and why it's not banned
Emma Jones, a solicitor for Leigh Day, said: “Time is running out. There are concerns among families who are campaigning that they might not see the outcome of this investigation.
“This has been [going on for] three decades and still there has been no proper answers or justice.”
She added: “At best, this is incompetence. At worst, it is a cover-up.”
Last year it was announced files had been passed to the CPS for potential charging decisions.
Officers have looked at three million pages of documents, including the medical records of 750 patients. And around 1,200 witness statements have also been taken.
A 2018 report into the deaths found there was a “disregard for human life” of a large number of patients from 1989 to 2000. There was an “institutionalised regime” of prescribing and administering “dangerous” amounts of a medication not clinically justified at the Hampshire hospital, the report added.
READ MORE...
Super-strength painkiller claims record death toll in England
Spain BANS UK tourists from buying painkiller
Spain travel warning: Painkiller banned after ten Britons killed
Dr Jane Barton oversaw the practice of prescribing on the wards and is the only person to face disciplinary action. She was found guilty of failings in her care of 12 patients between 1996 and 1999. But she was not struck off, choosing to retire after the findings were published.
In a 2018 statement, Dr Barton said she was a “hard-working doctor” who was “doing her best” for patients in a “very inadequately resourced” part of the NHS.
Deputy Chief Constable Neil Jerome, of Operation Magenta, called the investigation “one of the largest and most complex of its nature in the history of UK policing”.
He added: “It will be the CPS’ decision as to whether or not any criminal charges are brought in relation to these cases.
“The total number of suspects identified to date is 29, including 24 for alleged gross negligence manslaughter and five for alleged offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
“Interviews are being carried out under caution and there have been no arrests to date.”