Delivered Wrongful Convictions: The U.K. Postal Scandal

Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 U.K. post office branch managers were wrongly accused of theft or fraud due to a flawed computer system. This scandal has had profound consequences, including imprisonment, financial ruin and other tragic outcomes in the years that followed.

In one of the most significant miscarriages of justice in the history of the United Kingdom, more than 900 post office branch managers were wrongly accused of theft or fraud due to a flawed computer system called Horizon. This scandal, which unfolded between 1999 and 2015, has had profound consequences, including imprisonment, financial ruin and other tragic outcomes. 

Investigation

The unraveling of the U.K. Post Office scandal and the subsequent investigation into wrongful convictions emerged from a series of revelations that exposed the Post Office’s aggressive tactics to secure convictions against the sub-postmasters. Stephen Bradshaw admitted to offering lenient charges in exchange for the accused’s silence regarding the flaws in the Horizon information technology (IT) system. In addition, Edward Henry KC, who represents some of the falsely accused victims, stated that there was evidence that the Horizon IT system was not working from the very beginning. These revelations, laid bare during a public inquiry, shed light on a systemic failure within the Post Office’s investigative processes.  

Courts

The courts have taken a proactive role in reassessing the evidence to ensure that innocent sub-postmasters are exonerated. They are meticulously reviewing case files, analyzing testimonies and assessing financial records. In doing so, the courts aim to identify inaccuracies and discrepancies in accounting systems and point to systemic failures rather than individual wrongdoing. So far, out of the 900 sub-postmasters wrongfully convicted, the court of appeal has overturned 95 of those cases, one of which was Kathleen Crane. The former post office branch operator was cleared of all charges after three appeal court judges ruled that Crane’s conviction was “unsafe” and that she was “kept in ignorance” of Horizon’s defects. Kathleen Crane is the first of hundreds of branch owner-operators expected to reach the court of appeal as a result of the Post Office case review. 

Prime Minister

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has acknowledged the severity of the situation, labeling it “one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in the nation's history.” He has pledged to introduce measures, including a new law, to swiftly overturn all convictions and compensate those wrongly accused. Though the new legislation is not yet published, the U.K. Prime Minister says victims would be eligible for an upfront payment of EUR 75,000. Sunak stated, “We must do everything we can to exonerate and compensate these innocent people, and make sure they finally get the justice they deserve.” 

Parliamentary Committee

A parliamentary committee has launched its own inquiry, recognizing the urgency for a comprehensive investigation. This committee is scrutinizing the mechanisms that led to these convictions, questioning the oversight of the postal system's financial processes. The collaborative effort between the judiciary and parliament signals a united commitment to addressing the errors made against the sub-postmasters and rectifying systemic issues. Most recently, the Commons’ Business and Trade Committee has been working out a way to speed up compensation for the victims.  

As the U.K. grapples with this grave injustice, there is a collective push for accountability, compensation and reforms to prevent similar instances of judicial error in the future. The collaboration between the courts, parliament and advocacy groups underscores the urgency and commitment to rectifying the systemic failures that have marred the U.K. postal system. Going forward, the nation anticipates legislative changes, compensation for victims and an overhaul of the postal system to restore public trust.