Post Office workers promised justice
The Government has said it will clear the names of people who worked for the Post Office who were wrongly convicted of stealing because of a faulty computer system. It said this after a TV series (see panel) told the story of what happened.
What happened?
From 1999 to 2015, 736 Post Office workers were wrongly convicted for stealing money because of data from an IT system called Horizon. The Post Office introduced Horizon in 1999 to keep track of money. However, the system was faulty and, at many post offices, it wrongly reported money had gone missing. Post Office workers were held responsible and some went to prison.
What is being done to put things right?
So far, 93 people who were found guilty have had their convictions overturned (meaning they are officially not guilty). A public inquiry (a big investigation) into what happened opened in 2021 and is due to finish this year.
Will victims get help?
Yes. On 10 January, officials said every person who had been found guilty of crimes linked to data from Horizon will have their convictions overturned later this year. They will be given at least £600,000 each to help them rebuild their lives. Money is also available to Post Office workers whose lives were affected but who were not found guilty. Kevin Hollinrake, the Government’s minister for postal services, said, “It’s important that steps like we’ve announced are being taken to right the wrongs of the past.” However, Alan Bates, a Post Office worker who campaigned for justice, told MPs on 16 January that the Government’s compensation scheme is taking too long.
Is any other action being taken?
On 9 January, Paula Vennells, who was the head of the Post Office between 2012 and 2019, handed back her CBE (an honour awarded by the King or Queen). On 16 January, MPs heard from Paul Patterson from Fujitsu, the technology company that made the Horizon system. Patterson apologised and said that the company should help to pay for the compensation awarded to Post Office workers.