24 suspects identified in relation to hundreds of patient deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital

Police have identified 24 suspects as they investigate the deaths of hundreds of hospital patients in Hampshire.

The independent police investigation of the deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital was launched after a probe in 2018 found hundreds of patients had their lives shortened through the use of opioids.

At the time, the Gosport Independent Panel report concluded the lives of more than 450 people had been shortened because of the routine use of the drugs up to the year 2000.

It added that at least another 200 patients were likely to be similarly affected, and said there was "a disregard for human life and a culture of shortening lives of a large number of patients".

The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate - which is managing the investigation dubbed Operation Magenta - said it has taken 1,200 witness statements and is reviewing the records of more than 750 patients.

Of the suspects being interviewed, 21 are suspected of alleged gross negligence manslaughter, and three are being interviewed for alleged offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

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Deputy Chief Constable Neil Jerome said Operation Magenta "is one of the largest and most complex of its nature in the history of UK policing" and added: "We have now reached the stage where we have started to submit case files in relation to individual patients to the Crown Prosecution Service."

"It will be the CPS's decision as to whether or not any criminal charges are brought in relation to these cases," he said.

"The families of those who died at the hospital were informed at the start of the investigation that the full range of criminal offences would be considered."

The officer then noted "interviews are being carried out under caution and there have been no arrests to date".

He added: "Whilst we have never provided anyone with an estimate of how long our enquiries will last, family members and the general public can be confident we are working as quickly and thoroughly as possible to ensure Operation Magenta is the decisive police investigation into the deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital."

Relatives of some of those who died at the Hampshire hospital have long campaigned for prosecutions to be brought over the deaths, and have called for a Hillsborough-model inquest.

It comes after the High Court agreed last year to requests by the families of Gladys Richards, Arthur Cunningham and Robert Wilson for new inquests to be held into their deaths.

Inquests were originally held into Ms Richards's death in April 2013 and into Mr Cunningham and Mr Wilson's deaths in March and April 2009.

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The 2018 inquiry, led by the former bishop of Liverpool James Jones, did not ascribe criminal or civil liability for the deaths.

Along with its findings on patients, it added that there was an "institutionalised regime of prescribing and administering 'dangerous doses' of a hazardous combination of medication not clinically indicated or justified" at the hospital.

(c) Sky News 2024: 24 suspects identified in relation to hundreds of patient deaths at Gosport War Memor