The timeline for prosecutions related to the Post Office scandal and Axiom Ince remains unclear, according to the chief executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Paul Philip, the SRA’s chief executive, addressed the uncertainty surrounding the timing of these prosecutions during a recent press briefing. His comments came in response to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal’s (SDT) budget application, which mentioned that such cases might be filed “around mid-2025.” Mr Philip stated this projection was unexpected, highlighting the complexities involved in these cases.
The SRA maintains regular discussions with the tribunal to plan for future workloads, which includes Post Office-related work and the Axiom Ince case. However, he noted that the SRA has paused regulatory actions on Axiom Ince, pending the Serious Fraud Office’s investigation initiated in November 2023. The progression of these cases depends significantly on whether the criminal process will permit the use of evidence gathered during investigations.
A similar situation exists concerning the ongoing Post Office inquiry, which requires its evidence to be shared comfortably with the SRA. Mr Philip mentioned the restrictive conditions that previously prevented the SRA from accessing this evidence, stating that they might have to wait until the inquiry’s conclusion to proceed further.
Meanwhile, the SDT highlighted a surge in cases referred by the SRA, marking a 50% increase over eight months. Consequently, this rising workload has prompted the SDT to request a 25% budget increase for the following year, attributed by Mr Philip to a “temporary bump” due to a concerted effort to reduce a backlog of investigations.
Additionally, Mr Philip noted that the SRA recently engaged with the SSB Victims Support Group, primarily to listen and assure former clients of SSB Law of potential prosecutions for solicitor misconduct. However, he clarified that the SRA has limited influence over the issues facing former clients concerning insurers’ claims for costs related to discontinued cavity wall insulation claims.
In summary, while the SRA is actively engaged in managing and planning for its future workload, the timing of prosecutions related to the Post Office and Axiom Ince cases remains indeterminate. The process will continue to be influenced by external investigations and the sharing of evidence.
