Why hundreds were wrongly prosecuted

PA MediaThe Submit Workplace Horizon scandal has been referred to as the UK’s most widespread miscarriage of justice, after tons of of individuals have been prosecuted on the idea of knowledge from defective software program.The scandal led to widespread public anger, partly on account of successful TV drama, and has been the topic of a prolonged inquiry.The primary a part of the report from the official inquiry into what occurred is because of be printed on Tuesday 8 July.What occurred and the way many individuals have been affected?Greater than 900 sub-postmasters have been prosecuted due to incorrect info from the Horizon pc system.Many sub-postmasters went to jail for false accounting and theft, and others have been financially ruined.The Submit Workplace itself took many circumstances to courtroom, prosecuting 700 individuals between 1999 and 2015. One other 283 circumstances have been introduced by different our bodies, together with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).In 2017, a gaggle of 555 sub-postmasters – led by campaigner Alan Bates, who has since been knighted – took authorized motion in a landmark courtroom case towards the Submit Workplace. In 2019, the Submit Workplace agreed to pay the group £58m in compensation, however a lot of the cash went on authorized charges.Nevertheless, the motion paved the way in which for dozens of sub-postmasters to have their convictions quashed in 2021.The episode got here to wider public consideration final 12 months after it was depicted in an ITV drama, Mr Bates vs The Submit Workplace.The outcry triggered by the drama led to laws being rushed by means of Parliament to herald a legislation quashing convictions from the Horizon scandal.There at the moment are quite a lot of compensation schemes below approach, and as of two June 2025, greater than £1bn has been awarded to hundreds of sub-postmasters throughout all schemes.What was the impact on Submit Workplace workers?Many former sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses say the scandal ruined their lives.Some used their very own cash to cowl non-existent shortfalls as a result of their contracts stated they have been chargeable for unexplained losses. Many confronted chapter or misplaced their livelihoods.Marriages broke down, and a few households consider the stress led to severe well being situations, dependancy and even untimely demise.What compensation schemes are in place?There is not a single compensation scheme for sub-postmasters to use to, and particular person eligibility depends upon the actual circumstances of every case.The 4 principal schemes are geared toward teams of victims who had totally different experiences of the scandal. As of two June 2025, about £1.039bn has been awarded to simply over 7,300 sub-postmasters throughout all 4 redress schemes. That whole breaks down as:Horizon Shortfall Scheme – £559mGroup Litigation Order Scheme – £167mOverturned Convictions Scheme – £68mHorizon Convictions Redress Scheme – £245mProf Chris Hodges, chair of the the unbiased Horizon Compensation Advisory Board, advised the BBC that some particular person compensation claims have been “nicely over £1m”.What’s Fujitsu’s Horizon system?Horizon was developed by the Japanese firm Fujitsu, for duties akin to accounting and stocktaking.It was launched by the Submit Workplace in 1999.Sub-postmasters shortly complained about bugs within the system after it falsely reported shortfalls, usually for a lot of hundreds of kilos, however their issues have been dismissed.The Horizon system continues to be utilized by the Submit Workplace and maintained by Fujitsu. The Submit Workplace says it has continued to make enhancements to the system whereas it plans “to maneuver to a brand new system that’s being developed”.What’s the Submit Workplace Horizon public inquiry?A public inquiry started in 2022 and heard proof from Submit Workplace and Fujitsu staff.Final 12 months, Sir Alan Bates appeared on the inquiry, telling it that the Submit Workplace had spent 23 years making an attempt to “discredit and silence” him.Paula Vennells, who was Submit Workplace chief govt between 2012 and 2019, gave proof in Might 2024. She was quizzed for 3 days and at occasions broke down in tears. She apologised to the sub-postmasters and their households “who’ve suffered on account of all that the inquiry has been trying into for therefore lengthy”.The primary a part of the inquiry’s report is because of be printed on Tuesday.The inquiry grew to become nearly field workplace viewing – racking up greater than 20 million views on YouTube.Folks with no connection to the Submit Workplace advised the BBC how they grew to become engrossed watching.Who has been criticised for the Horizon scandal?