Postmasters win first case against Post Office

FORMER sub-postmasters have won the first stage of their court battle against the Post Office, in a row over software that they claim is to blame for accounting errors.

More than 550 claimants are involved in a group legal action at the High Court over the Horizon IT system, introduced by the Post Office between 1999 and 2000. Represented by a group of six lead claimants, they allege the system contained a large number of software defects, which they say caused shortfalls in their accounts. This led to some being made bankrupt, while others were prosecuted and even jailed for offences including false accounting, fraud and theft.

The Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance said sub-postmasters had scored an “emphatic win” yesterday after a judge made a series of findings in the first of at least three trials.

Mr Justice Fraser determined a number of key issues, resolving most of them in favour of the sub-postmasters. Alan Bates, one of the lead claimants, said: “This is a major step forward to achieving justice and getting to the truth of the matter. This judgment is consistent with the serious miscarriage of justice we believe has taken place.”

Tim Parker, Post Office chairman, said: “We take this judgment and its criticisms of the Post Office very seriously. While the culture and practices of the business have improved in many ways over the years, the judge’s comments are a forceful reminder to us that we must always continue to do better.”