This year, a long-standing scandal finally gained widespread attention when the public first learned about it in January. The Post Office has faced immense scrutiny ever since a 2019 High Court ruling revealed that its faulty computer system was causing mysterious shortages in subpostmaster accounts. The situation escalated after ITV aired a dramatization that brought the issue to the forefront.
Computer Weekly has been on this story since 2008, publishing over 500 articles, with nearly 200 this year alone. Here are the top ten most-read articles from this year, with the oldest dating back to 2009.
With the public eager for more insight into the Post Office scandal following ITV’s portrayal, Computer Weekly created an in-depth guide that has become the most visited page on the site this year. It’s updated frequently to keep up with the developing story.
Some articles from 2009 have gained renewed interest, such as one discussing Fujitsu’s involvement, published over three years ago.
Nearly four years ago, Computer Weekly revealed that Angela van den Bogerd, a contentious figure in the Post Office, exited her role after a High Court trial, facing backlash for her connections to the scandal.
During a recent public inquiry, details came out about IBM’s £100 million project to replace the problematic Horizon system, which began in 2015. When challenges arose, Post Office directors turned back to Fujitsu for assistance.
The statutory public inquiry into the Post Office started in 2021 and concluded its last oral evidence in November 2024. Over seven phases, the inquiry meticulously examined the Post Office’s actions over the past 30 years. Phase four, which looked into its legal practices, proved to be among the most-read articles this year.
Computer Weekly first highlighted the issues with Horizon 16 years ago, sharing the stories of seven subpostmasters affected by the system. The relevance of those accounts has never been greater than it is now.
One particularly contentious part of the scandal is Fujitsu’s unaudited access to subpostmaster accounts. For years, the Post Office denied this access, but the public inquiry has since revealed the truth behind it.
Fujitsu’s software, Horizon, remains a central focus of the scandal even after 25 years, and a recent article illustrates the challenges the Post Office faces in replacing it.
Horizon’s faults led to unexplained account shortages, but it was the Post Office’s response that deepened the crisis. An article details how a stressed Fujitsu leader deflected blame during a recent inquiry session.
Finally, after the High Court ruled in favor of the subpostmasters in late 2019, Computer Weekly chronicled the efforts of Alan Bates, the campaign leader who has since been honored as Sir Alan.