Approximately 230 post office workers were imprisoned on false charges of theft and fraud as a direct consequence of the Post Office scandal. These charges arose from faulty computer software known as Horizon.
The Scope of the Post Office Scandal
The Post Office scandal, recognized as one of the most significant miscarriages of justice in British history, saw hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters and postmistresses wrongly accused and prosecuted. The root cause was the Horizon IT system, developed by Fujitsu, which contained software bugs that made it appear as though money was missing from Post Office branches when it was not.
The human cost of this technological failure was devastating, leading to ruined lives, financial destitution, and severe mental health impacts for thousands of individuals.
Key Impacts of the Scandal:
| Category | Number/Impact | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Imprisoned Individuals | Around 230 people | Post office workers were unjustly jailed, serving sentences for crimes they did not commit, based on faulty evidence from the Horizon system. |
| Accused Individuals | Thousands | Beyond those imprisoned, thousands of other post office workers were accused of similar misdeeds, leading to prosecutions, demands for repayment of non-existent shortfalls, and significant damage to their reputations and finances. |
| Convictions Overturned | Over 90 as of early 2024 (and more expected) | A sustained legal campaign has led to many wrongful convictions being overturned by the courts, validating the claims of sub-postmasters who maintained their innocence for years. |
| Total Affected Individuals | Over 3,500 (investigated or prosecuted by Post Office) | This figure highlights the immense scale of the scandal, encompassing all those whose lives were adversely impacted by the Post Office's actions and the Horizon system. |
The Horizon System's Flaws
The core of the scandal lay in the Post Office's unwavering trust in the Horizon system, despite repeated warnings and evidence from sub-postmasters highlighting its inaccuracies. Instead of investigating the system, the Post Office pursued aggressive prosecutions, often coercing individuals into admitting guilt or repaying non-existent debts to avoid jail time.
The fight for justice has been a prolonged and arduous journey for the victims, marked by a statutory inquiry and ongoing efforts to provide compensation and fully exonerate all those affected.
For further details on the profound impact and timeline of this scandal, you can find more information on this significant event.
