A nationwide outage in the Horizon IT system caused major disruptions at Post Office branches all over the country today, leaving thousands unable to conduct business at the start of the day. Despite the Post Office downplaying the issue and stating that it was resolved by 9.30am, notices sent to subpostmasters indicated that thousands of counters were affected by the connectivity issue.
Representatives from the Voice of the Postmaster campaign group and the Communication Workers Union expressed frustration at the recurring problems with the Horizon system, with one suggesting that more incidents are likely to occur until the system is replaced. The Horizon system has been at the center of a scandal that resulted in financial crimes convictions and ruined livelihoods for many.
Efforts to replace the Horizon system have been delayed, with the project not expected to be fully completed until 2030. The Post Office is also undergoing leadership changes, with a new technology leader appointed as the organization awaits additional government funding for the project. Talks between the Post Office and supplier Fujitsu are ongoing, with a new contract potentially on the horizon.
The Post Office scandal, first brought to light by Computer Weekly in 2009, has been described as one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in British history. It’s a complex situation that continues to unfold as the Post Office grapples with the repercussions of the Horizon system debacle.