We are running a short inquiry on financial redress in the Post Office Horizon scandal, focused on “fast and fair redress” for victims of what has been described as the biggest miscarriage of justice in UK history.
In a scandal reaching back over two decades, postmasters who run individual post office branches experienced difficulties with the Horizon Post Office computer system. Errors in the system showed false shortfalls in postmasters’ accounts, which the Post Office then demanded they cover. The Post Office used information from the Horizon system, provided by Fujitsu, to investigate and take action against postmasters and employees. This resulted in suspensions, prosecutions and bankruptcies, leading to health problems, family breakdown and even suicide among the people affected.
The situation has been compounded by the ensuing lengthy campaign for justice involving multiple court cases, overturned convictions, the development of several financial redress schemes and an ongoing public inquiry. The ITV drama “Mr Bates vs The Post Office” screened in January 2024 drew widespread public attention to the scandal.