In 2012, independent forensic accountants hired to investigate the controversial Post Office Horizon system described witnessing cover-ups, threats, obstruction, and what they referred to as the “worst corporate behavior” in their extensive careers.
During the recent public inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal, investigators from Second Sight exposed the extensive measures taken by the Post Office to conceal flaws in the Horizon computer system and prevent the exposure of prosecution malpractice. Second Sight, consisting of Ian Henderson and Ron Warmington, had been brought in to investigate Horizon after pressure from MPs and a campaign group formed by subpostmasters.
As they delved into their investigation, Second Sight quickly discovered evidence of wrongful prosecutions of subpostmasters based on flawed Horizon evidence and clear miscarriages of justice. The Post Office, led by CEO Paula Vennells, actively worked to steer the investigation away from probing the safety of these convictions, while also making efforts to cover up errors in Horizon and prosecution malpractice.
Henderson also revealed that he faced threats from Post Office executives, including warnings about legal action under his non-disclosure agreement. Meanwhile, Warmington described the Post Office’s resistance to the investigation, calling it the worst corporate behavior he had ever encountered in his many years of investigative work.
Despite their efforts to uncover the truth, Second Sight’s contract was terminated in 2015, and they were dismissed by the Post Office. Their final report revealed that the Post Office had prosecuted subpostmasters without properly investigating the causes of their accounting shortfalls. The scandal, which was initially brought to light by Computer Weekly in 2009, remains one of the most significant miscarriages of justice in British history.