Uncovering the Post Office Horizon Scandal: A Timeline of Injustice and Accountability
Post Office Horizon scandal: A 20-year miscarriage of justice finally exposed
For more than two decades, the Post Office Horizon scandal has been a dark cloud hanging over the UK’s postal service. What started as an ambitious automation project in 1999 turned into a nightmare for hundreds of subpostmasters across the country. Computer Weekly’s relentless investigation has now brought this scandal to the forefront, revealing it as the widest miscarriage of justice in UK history.
The Horizon System: A Flawed Technology
The Horizon system, introduced by Fujitsu in 1999, was meant to streamline accounting processes at Post Office branches. However, it quickly became apparent that the system was causing unexplained accounting shortfalls for many subpostmasters. Without the paper trail of traditional accounting methods, proving innocence became nearly impossible.
The Victims: Subpostmasters’ Lives Destroyed
Over 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted for financial crimes they did not commit, leading to bankruptcies, prison sentences, and ruined reputations. The toll on their mental health and well-being was immense, with several suicides linked to the scandal.
Computer Weekly’s Role: Exposing the Truth
Computer Weekly’s investigative reporting played a crucial role in bringing the Horizon scandal to light. Stories of subpostmasters experiencing unexplained losses sparked a wider investigation, leading to the formation of the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance.
Legal Battles and Victories
After years of legal battles, a group litigation order against the Post Office resulted in a £58 million compensation settlement for the victims. The High Court judgment proved that the Horizon system was indeed flawed, leading to the overturning of over 93 wrongful convictions.
Government Inquiry and Accountability
A statutory public inquiry chaired by Wyn Williams has exposed the Post Office’s knowledge of Horizon’s errors and its unjust legal practices. Calls for accountability, including stripping former CEO Paula Vennells of her CBE, have grown louder.
Ongoing Injustice and New Revelations
Despite the compensation settlement, many subpostmasters are yet to receive their due payments, with some passing away before justice could be served. New revelations of problems with the pre-Horizon Capture system have emerged, raising further questions about the Post Office’s practices.
As the public outcry grows and pressure mounts on the Post Office and Fujitsu, the long-standing miscarriage of justice in the Horizon scandal is finally being addressed. The victims may have waited over two decades for justice, but their voices are finally being heard.