It’s been 25 years since Horizon’s launch, and for just as long, subpostmasters have faced issues due to this system. Computer Weekly first raised concerns about the IT system 16 years ago, prompting subpostmasters to band together a few months later to seek justice for the hardships caused by the system’s errors.
Fast forward six years, and subpostmasters took their fight to the High Court. They aimed to prove that it was Horizon causing unexplained losses, not them. They succeeded in 2019. Just four years ago, the first group of six subpostmasters had their wrongful convictions overturned due to faulty data from the Horizon system. That number quickly grew as more cases followed.
A public inquiry began over three years ago. Initially, it was a non-statutory review, but in May 2021, pressure from various quarters led the government to convert it into a statutory inquiry. An ITV dramatization of the scandal aired about a year ago, bringing it back into the public eye.
Recently, this inquiry wrapped up after nearly three years. The final phase focused on current practices and made it clear: the problems within the Post Office are still significant.
At the heart of the issue lies a malfunctioning computer system. The High Court validated this claim in 2019, and the latest inquiry findings reveal that subpostmasters are still confronting difficulties with Horizon. A survey conducted by YouGov showed that three-quarters of a thousand current subpostmasters have had to use their own funds to cover discrepancies since 2020. Over half of them reported unexplained shortfalls, with many facing these problems regularly.
Calum Greenhow, the CEO of the National Federation of Subpostmasters, testified about unresolved debts subpostmasters now carry with the Post Office. Some have been dealing with these issues for years, and he urged the Post Office to provide transparent solutions.
Saf Ismail, a subpostmaster and non-executive director at the Post Office, voiced concerns about a project aimed at replacing Horizon. Despite the acknowledgement that Horizon was error-laden, the New Branch IT (NBIT) project has faced numerous hurdles. At a hearing, former Post Office leaders admitted to governance issues regarding the project. Ismail described significant financial mistakes during a move to a cloud platform, which ended up costing £35 million but resulted only in new air-conditioning systems for their offices.
Originally slated to replace Horizon by 2025, the NBIT project has now been stalled after the Post Office requested substantial extra funding from the Treasury to redirect its course.
The inquiry also delved deep into the Post Office’s internal investigations linked to the scandal. A startling revelation indicated that senior management may have instructed staff to purge documents related to the inquiry. This matter has been handed over to the police.
John Bartlett, the head of the Post Office’s internal investigations, confirmed that multiple major investigations were underway, including allegations of intent to destroy critical information and misconduct in handling subpostmaster compensation.
Amid this chaos, interim chairman Nigel Railton candidly declared that the NBIT project was “set up to fail.” He laid out problems right from its inception, revealing a critical focus on merely abandoning Horizon without a strategic plan for future systems. This admission comes alongside reports that the Post Office is now considering abandoning its in-house construction efforts in favor of an off-the-shelf alternative.
The inquiry’s testimony has not spared the outgoing CEO Nick Read, who faced scrutiny for his handling of staff matters and the organization’s financial missteps during his tenure. Whistleblower reports highlighted significant concerns about organizational transparency.
Former Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake criticized Read’s inability to streamline operations amidst budgetary concerns, pointing out that there are over 140 employees earning above £100,000 annually.
The relationship between the Post Office and Fujitsu has grown increasingly strained. Evidence from Chris Brocklesby, the former chief transformation officer, indicated that the two entities no longer operated in a cohesive manner. Despite a long and troubled partnership, Brocklesby noted no realistic plan existed for a Horizon replacement upon his arrival.
In the inquiry’s discussions, Alex Chisholm and Lorna Gratton revealed the Post Office misallocated millions in public funds during its legal battles. Gratton also signaled plans for a further independent review of Horizon to assess its reliability moving forward.
In a dramatic shift, Fujitsu’s head Paul Patterson adopted a confrontational stance during his recent testimony, claiming that many parties share the blame for the ongoing issues. His remarks came as the Horizon system faced increasing scrutiny over its lifespan and ongoing failures.