The police confirmed on Friday that it is looking into the handling of the Horizon IT scandal - "such as the monies recovered from subpostmasters as a result of prosecutions or civil actions".

Detectives are also separately looking into "potential offences of perjury and perverting the course of justice" in an investigation that was launched in January 2020.

Two people have been interviewed under caution, but nobody has been arrested.

Read more: The true story behind drama on Horizon IT scandal

Former subpostmasters and subpostmistresses were held liable by the Post Office for financial discrepancies thrown up by its computerised accounting system Horizon.

Faulty Fujitsu software made it appear as though money was missing from their outlets.

The Post Office's pursuit led to more than 700 prosecutions, criminal convictions and, in some cases, prison sentences.

Many of those pursued were told to plead guilty to crimes or face jail, according to lawyers who have represented dozens of those impacted.

They were forced to pay the Post Office money it claimed had gone missing, which meant many lost their jobs, homes and life savings.

It has been described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history, and a public inquiry into it is ongoing.

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More than half a million people have signed an online petition calling for the former Post Office boss to have her CBE taken away over the scandal.

Paula Vennells later said she was "truly sorry" for the "suffering" caused to subpostmasters who were wrongly convicted of offences.

After ITV aired a drama into the scandal, Mr Bates vs The Post Office starring actor Toby Jones, 50 new potential victims have approached lawyers, it has been said.