P&O Boss has already admitted the firm broke the law
A criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding P&O Ferries decision to sack 800 of its workers has been launched, the insolvency service has announced.
In a statement on Friday, the Insolvency Service said it has begun examining the redundancies made by P&O Ferries, but could not comment further.
“As these are ongoing investigations, no further comment or information can be provided at this time,” it said.
The RMT Union which represents the P&O workers has welcomed the decision, with general secretary Mick Lynch saying: “There are clear grounds to detain P&O’s ship whilst criminal and civil investigations are completed.
“Justice must be delivered for our members in the face of continued corporate hostility.”
Earlier this month, P&O boss Peter Hebblethwaite was forced to admit in front of a parliamentary select committee that his company broke the law by not consulting with trade unions before sacking workers.
Hebblethwaite also confirmed that the ferry company was not planning to pay their replacement workers minimum wage, admitting the average hourly rate would be £5.50.
In response, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the government would give British courts new statutory powers to refuse access to regular ferry services, which do not pay their crew the national minimum wage.
The government has condemned the company for the unceremonious sackings.
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