Gosport War Memorial Hospital: Police now have 24 suspects

Detectives involved in the long-running Operation Magenta are focusing on events that occurred at Gosport War Memorial Hospital over a 14-year period.

In 2018 an independent report said at least 456 patients died between 1987 and 2001 after being given powerful painkillers they did not need.

Around 150 serving and retired police officers are working on the inquiry, which involves officers and staff from across the country.

They have already examined more than three million pages of documents, including the medical records of 750 patients, and taken witness statements from at least 1,150 family members.

Police investigating hundreds of patient deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital have now identified 24 suspects (Image: Newsquest)

Operation Magenta is being led by Deputy Chief Constable Neil Jerome.

In an update he said: "The independent investigation into the deaths at Gosport War Memorial is one of the largest and most complex of its nature in the history of UK policing.

"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 total number of suspects identified to date is 24, including 21 for alleged gross negligence manslaughter and three for alleged offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

"Interviews are being carried out under caution. There have been no arrests to date."

READ MORE: Gosport War Memorial Hospital: 19 suspects over 450 patient deaths

Mr Jerome added: "The investigation continues to make good progress. 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 what happened."

Relatives of patients who died at Gosport War Memorial Hospital are demanding justice for their loved ones (Image: PA)

The 2018 report said the lives of more than 450 people were shortened because of the routine practice of prescribing and administering opioids, adding that a further 200 patients were probably affected in the same way.

READ MORE: Staff at Gosport War Memorial Hospital set to be interviewed over hundreds of deaths

The report cited a “disregard for human life and a culture of shortening the lives of a large number of patients" at the hospital.

It described an "institutionalised regime of prescribing and administering 'dangerous doses' of a 'hazardous combination of medication not clinically indicated or justified'.

Over the years the high number of deaths have sparked several police and health probes, including a General Medical Council inquiry and multiple inquests.

Relatives have repeatedly voiced their anger and frustration at the time being taken to establish what happened.