The British Post Office scandal, one of the most widespread miscarriages of justice in UK history, centers on the faulty Horizon IT system and its devastating impact on sub-postmasters. Beginning in the late 1990s, the Post Office introduced Horizon, a system developed by Fujitsu, to manage transactions and accounts across its network of branches, typically run by independent sub-postmasters.
Almost immediately, discrepancies began appearing in branch accounts. Horizon reported shortfalls that sub-postmasters were held liable for. Despite protesting their innocence and insisting on system errors, the Post Office relentlessly pursued them, leading to accusations of theft, false accounting, and fraud. The Post Office, acting as both investigator and prosecutor, pursued legal action against hundreds of sub-postmasters.
Between 1999 and 2015, over 700 sub-postmasters were wrongly convicted. Many faced imprisonment, bankruptcy, and social ostracization. Some were forced to sell their homes to repay alleged debts. The emotional and financial toll was immense, with reports of suicides and shattered families. Sub-postmasters who questioned Horizon were often silenced, threatened with further legal action, or simply ignored.
The Post Office consistently maintained that Horizon was robust and reliable, denying the possibility of systemic errors. Evidence suggesting flaws in the system was suppressed, and expert witnesses were pressured to support the Post Office’s narrative. For years, sub-postmasters felt isolated, believing they were the only ones experiencing problems with Horizon. Gradually, however, they began to connect with each other, sharing their experiences and building a support network.
Eventually, the truth began to emerge. Investigative journalists and persistent legal challenges exposed the flaws in Horizon and the Post Office’s systematic cover-up. The Bates v Post Office case, led by sub-postmaster Alan Bates, proved to be a turning point. In 2019, the High Court ruled that Horizon contained numerous bugs and errors, invalidating the convictions based on its data.
Since then, efforts have been underway to overturn wrongful convictions and provide compensation to the victims. A public inquiry is ongoing, examining the Post Office’s conduct and the role of Fujitsu. While some convictions have been quashed and compensation has been awarded, the process has been slow and frustrating for many. The scandal has sparked public outrage and raised serious questions about the accountability of large organizations, the power imbalance between the Post Office and its sub-postmasters, and the reliability of IT systems in legal proceedings.
The Post Office scandal serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked power, technological hubris, and the importance of protecting the rights of individuals against powerful institutions.