The government is diving into issues surrounding a second Post Office IT system called Ecco+, which came before the contentious Horizon software. Civil servants recently met with representatives from the National Federation of Subpostmasters (NFSP) to learn more about this system, marketed to subpostmasters in the 1990s.
Last month, the NFSP reached out to the minister overseeing the Post Office, asking for a review of the challenges users faced with Ecco+. This week, NFSP CEO Calum Greenhow and legal representatives from Howe & Co solicitors spoke with civil servants linked to the Capture investigation, specifically discussing Ecco+. Greenhow emphasized the government’s seriousness about this issue, noting their request for information from the Post Office about Ecco+.
According to a spokesperson from the Department for Business and Trade, concerns about Ecco+ surfaced during an independent investigation into the Capture system. They confirmed that the department is investigating these issues further.
Ecco+ was primarily used in Crown Offices, which the Post Office managed directly. While there were fewer prosecutions stemming from Ecco+ shortfalls, some users faced dismissal or felt forced to resign, incurring substantial financial repercussions. There’s worry too that staff who bought these Crown branches are now facing significant losses linked to the failings of the system.
The NFSP recently discovered a document indicating that Ecco+ was actively marketed to subpostmasters, detailing its ability to automate Post Office counters and mentioning a monthly fee of £266 for a five-year contract involving four counters.
Two former Post Office executives, Rupert Lloyd Thomas and Patrick Sedgwick, who have deep knowledge of IT operations, are now focusing on Ecco+. Lloyd Thomas pointed out that a crisis with Ecco+ emerged in 1996, prompting an investigation by the Post Office IT department, which found the system to be defective.
Greenhow is urging any former Ecco+ users to share their experiences. The struggles with the Horizon system first came to light in 2009 through Computer Weekly. However, ITV’s dramatization of these issues in January brought them to the forefront of national news. Following the drama, Kevan Jones, the former MP for North Durham, highlighted stories from subpostmasters affected by the Capture system.
David Enright, a partner at Howe & Co Solicitors, who has represented countless subpostmasters seeking justice in this scandal, stressed the need for thorough resolution of all issues before moving forward.
Last month, Computer Weekly asked the Post Office for information about Ecco+ but received a response indicating that they didn’t have the details readily available. They suggested filing a freedom of information request, citing the age of the matter dating back about 30 years.
Computer Weekly first uncovered the scandal in 2009, bringing attention to the experiences of seven subpostmasters who faced hardships due to the Horizon software, which resulted in one of the largest miscarriages of justice in British history.