Recent evidence submitted to investigators looking into the Post Office’s pre-Horizon Capture system hasn’t changed the findings from last month’s report.
The government initiated this investigation to determine if subpostmasters faced wrongful blame and prosecution for discrepancies in the accounting system. This inquiry gained momentum when former subpostmasters began sharing their experiences in January, spurred by the broadcast of an ITV dramatization of the Post Office Horizon scandal, which echoed the distress of many affected by the system’s failures.
Kroll, the forensic firm leading the investigation, found a “reasonable likelihood” that the Capture system was responsible for the accounting shortfalls that led to blame, and sometimes prosecution, of its users. However, as reported by Computer Weekly, the investigation faced setbacks due to late information provided just as the report was set for release. This included backup tapes and servers from the Post Office’s former finance headquarters and casework spreadsheets detailing criminal prosecutions dating back to the 1980s.
After reviewing this late information, Kroll issued an addendum confirming that their main conclusions remained unchanged, stating, “No significant or material changes have come about as a result of this review.”
The Capture issue contributes to the broader Post Office scandal, brought to light by Computer Weekly in 2009. This scandal involved numerous subpostmasters unjustly accused and prosecuted for accounting discrepancies, which were later attributed to the flawed Horizon IT system.
In January, former MP Kevan Jones, now a member of the House of Lords, raised concerns about injustices stemming from the Capture system used in Post Office branches before Horizon’s rollout. This came after former subpostmasters shared their experiences, describing significant difficulties with the Capture system.
Hudgell Solicitors is currently representing over 70 individuals who faced unexplained losses in their accounts during the 1990s. Lawyer Neil Hudgell noted that the supplemental report adds clarity but doesn’t alter the main findings, emphasizing the need for a prompt resolution for the affected subpostmasters.
Steve Marston, a former subpostmaster from Bury, Lancashire, was prosecuted in 1996 for theft and false accounting after experiencing a shortfall of nearly £80,000. He pointed out that his traditional accounting methods had never failed him until he switched to the Capture system. Marston stated, “It’s no surprise the additional information hasn’t changed the report since we provided most of the evidence. Now that the government has the full details, we need swift action. We can’t afford delays like those seen with the Horizon scandal.”
Capture was a PC-based application that allowed subpostmasters to manage branch accounts on personal computers. Users described it as a “glorified spreadsheet,” highlighting its limited capabilities compared to the complex, networked Horizon system.
The government plans to announce its next steps in December. Rupert Lloyds Thomas, a former Post Office executive advocating for former Capture users, commented on the need for the government to clarify its redress scheme and to refer potential wrongful convictions to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
The Post Office scandal, first uncovered by Computer Weekly in 2009, revealed the plight of seven subpostmasters whose lives were upended by Horizon software, marking one of the most significant miscarriages of justice in British history.