Police have handed prosecutors case files in an investigation into more than 456 people who had their lives cut short by being given opioids at Gosport War Memorial Hospital.

The independent investigation - directed by Kent police - has identified 24 suspects, including 24 for gross negligence manslaughter.

The latest in the investigation comes after a 2018 bishop-led report found a "disregard for human life" at the hospital between 1989 and 2000.

Today Deputy Chief Constable Neil Jerome of Operation Magenta updated families of patients who died.

In a statement, he said: ‘The independent investigation into deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital, Hampshire, between 1987 and 2001 is one of the largest and most complex of its nature in the history of UK policing.

"Our team consists of serving and retired detectives who have so far assessed more than three million pages of documents including the medical records of over 750 patients, and taken around 1,200 witness statements from affected family members.

‘Our enquiries remain ongoing and 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’ decision as to whether or not any criminal charges are brought in relation to these cases.

"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 and there have been no arrests to date.

"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."