The audio tapes from 2013 revealed that Post Office chiefs were aware of significant issues with the Horizon IT system. The system, created by Fujitsu, was meant to manage accounts but began showing errors causing sub-postmasters to be wrongly blamed for shortfalls. More than 900 sub-postmasters were convicted of theft and false accounting between 1999 and 2015 due to these errors. The newly obtained recordings showed that Post Office managers were aware of these issues and that sub-postmasters were not at fault.
Post Office IT specialist Simon Baker informed independent accountants of issues with the accounts being changed overnight. Forensic accountant Ian Henderson from Second Sight found faults with the Horizon system and Fujitsu’s programming. The conversation revealed that Fujitsu had the ability to access sub-postmaster accounts without informing them, which was described as a nightmare scenario. Post Office chiefs were allegedly made aware by Baker that Fujitsu admitted to accessing accounts without informing the sub-postmasters.
Former sub-postmaster Alan Bates has campaigned for justice after taking on the Post Office. The recordings obtained by Channel 4 and the revelations made by Henderson were described as “enraging” by Labour MP Liam Byrne. The Post Office scandal victims have been fighting to clear their names after being wrongly convicted and imprisoned. Fujitsu expressed their deepest apologies to the sub-postmasters and their families and committed to cooperating with the UK statutory public Inquiry to ensure a just outcome for the victims.
The plight of the sub-postmasters came back into the spotlight with the airing of the ITV drama Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office. The drama highlighted the miscarriage of justice faced by the wrongly convicted sub-postmasters. The recordings obtained by Channel 4 and the findings by Second Sight raised questions about the accountability of those responsible for the wrongful convictions. The Post Office’s role in compensating the victims and the need for a thorough investigation into the Horizon IT system’s faults were brought to the forefront.
MP Liam Byrne questioned whether the police have enough evidence to hold accountable those who jailed innocent people due to the Horizon IT system errors. The scandal brought attention to the need for justice, compensation, and accountability for the wrongly convicted sub-postmasters. The recordings shed light on the knowledge of Post Office managers about the faults in the system and the unfair treatment of sub-postmasters. The ongoing efforts to uncover the truth, seek justice, and rectify the wrongful convictions remain a top priority for those affected by the Post Office scandal.
The revelations from the audio tapes and investigations highlight the urgency in addressing the miscarriage of justice faced by the sub-postmasters. The recordings exposed the lack of proper controls within the Horizon IT system and the unjust treatment of innocent sub-postmasters. The Post Office’s role in compensating the victims and the need for a fair resolution to the longstanding issue have gained traction. The calls for accountability, transparency, and justice for the wrongly convicted sub-postmasters continue to resonate within the public discourse and demand immediate action to right the wrongs committed.
