British Post Office Scandal

British Post Office scandal


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67905194

Measures are being considered by the government to clear the names of hundreds of sub-postmasters convicted in the Post Office Horizon scandal.

More than 700 branch managers were convicted of false accounting, theft and fraud based on faulty software.

Fewer than 100 people have had their convictions quashed.

The prime minister said the government was reviewing options - including stripping the Post Office of its role in the appeal process.

The Post Office had the power to decide on bringing the original prosecutions and its appointed lawyers presented the evidence in court. But one option now would be for the Crown Prosecution Service and its own lawyers to step in as appeals continue to be heard.

Many victims of the scandal - which began in 1999 - are still fighting to have their convictions overturned or to secure full compensation after being forced to pay out thousands of pounds of their own money for shortfalls that were caused by Horizon accounting software.

Why were hundreds of sub-postmasters prosecuted?
Lee Castleton, a former postmaster who said his life has been ruined by the Post Office, told the BBC: "I'm really, really angry."

Rishi Sunak told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that the scandal was "an appalling miscarriage of justice".

The Post Office - which is wholly-owned by the government - acted as the prosecutor when it brought the cases against its sub-postmasters and retains a role when those individuals appeal.

In some cases it has opposed attempts by sub-postmasters to clear their names.

Asked by Laura Kuenssberg if the Justice Secretary Alex Chalk was looking at whether all those convicted could be exonerated or the Post Office could be stripped of its role, Mr Sunak said: "Obviously, there's legal complexity in all of those things but he is looking at exactly those areas that you've described.

"It is right that we find every which way we can do to try to make this right for the people who were so wrongfully treated at the time."

Last month, a board overseeing compensation called for all Post Office staff wrongly accused of theft and false accounting to have their convictions overturned.

*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***

BBC World News has been reporting on the scandal every day this week. The inquiry into the scandal, soon, will hear testimony from Fujitsu that installed the faulty system.

Pressure is mounting for Fujitsu to contribute to a compensation fund. Also, BBC keeps repeating that the company still wins government contracts.

This has, of course, been going on for years. It's taken a BBC series based on the scandal to goad Ministers into belated action.

Indeed Geoff. Were it not for the TV drama this issue would have carried on being ignored by politicians and civil servants for ever and a day. Many people carry responsibility for this who will never be called to book.
Regards
DavidR