Press release

P&O Ferries: update from the Insolvency Service (19 August 2022)

The Insolvency Service has provided an update following its urgent enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the redundancies made by P&O Ferries on 17 March 2022.

From:
The Insolvency Service
Published
19 August 2022
Last updated
1 October 2024 — See all updates

An Insolvency Service spokesperson said:

“After a full and robust criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the employees who were made redundant by P&O Ferries, we have concluded that we will not commence criminal proceedings.”

  • The Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy asked the Insolvency Service to investigate whether any offences had been committed in relation to P&O Ferries’ dismissal of 786 employees on 17 March 2022.
  • The offence alleged was failure to notify in accordance with section 193 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 contrary to section 194(1) of that Act.
  • The Insolvency Service conducted a criminal investigation, which was reviewed by an independent senior prosecution lawyer in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, who concluded there was no realistic prospect of a conviction.
  • The civil investigation by the Insolvency Service is ongoing and we cannot comment further at this time.

Press Office

16th Floor, 1 Westfield Ave
London
E20 1HZ

Email press.office@insolvency.gov.uk

Media Manager 0303 003 1743

This service is for journalists only. For any other queries, please contact the Insolvency Enquiry Line.

For all media enquiries,enquiries contact:outside 07966normal 442994working hours, please contact the Department for Business and Trade Press Office on 0207 215 2000.

Updates to this page

Published 19 August 2022
Last updated 1 October 2024 + show all updates

  1. Removed in error

  2. First published.