Criminal and civil investigations have been launched into the decision by a Dubai-owned ferry company to sack nearly 800 British workers without notice. P&O Ferries, which was bought by Dubai-based logistics giant DP World in 2019, sparked outrage on March 17 when it fired 800 seafarers without any prior notice and replaced them with cheaper agency workers, citing £100 million ($132 million) year-on-year loss. UK Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said on April 1 that the Insolvency Service has started “formal criminal and civil investigations.” The Insolvency Service said in a statement: “Following its inquiries, the Insolvency Service has commenced formal criminal and civil investigations into the circumstances surrounding the recent redundancies made by P&O Ferries. “As these are ongoing investigations, no further comment or information can be provided at this time.” At a parliamentary hearing last week, P&O Ferries Chief Executive Peter Hebblethwaite acknowledged that the company knowingly broke the …