The furore over P&O Ferries decision to fire 786 employees on 17 March has reached a new stage with a UK government agency confirming it has launched criminal and civil investigations.

UK business and energy secretary Kwasi Kwarteng Tweeted a document revealing the enquiry on Friday.

“Following its enquiries, I can confirm that the Insolvency Service has initiated both formal criminal and civil investigations into the circumstances surrounding the recent redundancies made by P&O Ferries,” said Dean Beale, inspector general and chief executive, in the letter.