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Post Office Horizon scandal
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Partial report released due to ongoing issues with compensation.
- Errors in the system: The Post Office and Fujitsu "knew, or at the very least should have known", the Horizon IT system used in PO branches had faults. The sub-postmasters are also described as “victims of wholly unacceptable behaviour” by the two companies
- Impact on sub-postmasters and their families: It is “impossible to ascertain” how many people suffered, the report says. Many endured abuse in their local communities, considered or subjected themselves to self-harm, suffered psychological harm, lost their homes, suffered financial, physical and mental distress, and turned to alcoholism
- Lives lost: Thirteen people were found to have taken their own lives, six former sub-postmasters and seven others who were not sub-postmasters. The inquiry's chair Wyn Williams says he also "received evidence from at least 59 persons who contemplated suicide at various points in time and who attributed this to their experiences with Horizon and/or the Post Office"
- The key numbers: Approximately 1,000 Post Office workers were prosecuted, and only 50-60 were not convicted. Thousands were suspended - considerably more than those who faced criminal proceedings - and many later had their contracts terminated
- Delays to compensation: The delivery of redress to claimants under three separate schemes has been “bedevilled with unjustifiable delays”, and while some are satisfied, there are many who are not
- Redress: The government will devise a programme of redress to close family members of those most adversely affected. Additionally, the government, Post Office and Fujitsu will agree a programme of restorative justice
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Those responsible,i.e.Paula Vennels and her cohorts should be banged up,they knew what was going on and tried to cover it all up to save their own arses.11
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The chairman reading the report sounded as thought he was half asleep .. what's needed is not more hot air but backbone from the government threatening criminal charges unless full compensation is paid out before (say) Christmas .. this 'crime' /scandal has gone on far too long and so far no-one held to account and I doubt that anyone properly will .. I won't hold my breath4
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Police officers investigating the Post Office Horizon IT scandal are now considering corporate manslaughter charges.
In an update, shared with victims in the past few days, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said the investigation was currently focused on eight suspects, with five interviews conducted under caution.
It said there were now 53 persons of interest, most of whom were likely to be raised to suspect status at a later stage in the probe.
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