Post Office Scandal Update.

How It Started.

We’ve been following the Post Office scandal with interest. Improving Software for Society is our rallying call. Faulty software was the root cause of the UK’s most widespread miscarriage of justice. It’s a salient reminder of how vigilant we must always be.

The Horizon system was developed by the Japanese company Fujitsu and was installed to manage accounting and stocktaking tasks. The system falsely reported shortfalls and hundreds of people were wrongly prosecuted. The Horizon system is still used by the Post Office. They maintain that improvements continue and that they plan to move to a new system, which is in development.

Accountability & Systemic Failures. Investigations Continue.

More than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted. Many went to prison for false accounting and theft. Others were financially ruined. The Post Office prosecuting more than 700 people between 1999 and 2015.

In 2017 555 sub-postmasters took legal action against the Post Office. It was a landmark court case. They were led by campaigner Alan Bates who was later knighted for his contribution. In 2019 the Post Office paid out £58m in compensation. A lot of this money went on legal fees so this was certainly not considered adequate compensation but it paved the way for many sub-postmasters to have their convictions quashed.

The Impact

Many say the Post Office scandal ruined their lives. As reported by the BBC: “Some used their own money to cover non-existent shortfalls because their contracts said they were responsible for unexplained losses. Many faced bankruptcy or lost their livelihoods. Marriages broke down, and some families believe the stress led to serious health conditions, addiction and even premature death. It is thought that more than 13 people may have taken their own lives as a result. In the report, inquiry chair Sir Wyn Williams said the impact on those affected had been “disastrous”, and that it was not easy to “exaggerate the trauma” that people suffered as they were investigated and prosecuted.”

Where Are We Now?

Action is being taken. There are multiple compensation schemes and a criminal investigation is looking into corporate manslaughter and perverting the course of justice. Specifically:

– There is a PUBLIC INQUIRY and criminal investigation to examine the failings that led to the scandal. The police are seeking advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) regarding potential charges of corporate and gross negligence manslaughter. Eight individuals have been identified as suspects A further 53 are considered persons of interest, including Post Office and Fujitsu management, lawyers, and investigators.

– Several schemes have seen over £1.23bn COMPENSATION awarded to 9,100+ victims. Those who suffered financial losses but were not convicted can also apply for compensation.

– December 2025 saw the Post Office reprimanded for an entirely preventable DATA BREACH.

– The government now provides government-funded, free LEGAL AID & ADVICE to victims.

Reference Materials

Links to in-depth reporting and ongoing news updates:

– postofficehorizoninquiry.org

– lordslibrary.parliament.uk

– corporate.postoffice.co.uk/horizon-scandal-pages/faqs

– www.gov.uk/government/post-office