Sir Alan Bates, a campaigner, has criticized Post Office executives for their “utter incompetence” after it was revealed that a document containing the names and addresses of victims of the scandal was published on the Post Office website. The document, known as the “Confidential Settlement Deed,” was discovered by journalist Nick Wallis and has since been removed from the website. However, a Google search still finds a link to the document, indicating it may have been online since 2019.
According to a story in The Daily Mail by Wallis, the document includes the names and addresses of 555 subpostmasters involved in the 2018/19 High Court case that exposed errors in the Post Office’s Horizon IT system, leading to accounting losses incorrectly attributed to the victims.
Knighted campaigner Bates expressed his disbelief at the Post Office’s incompetence, noting their failure to provide requested documents for disclosure and the disclosure of highly confidential material on their website. The Post Office has faced criticism from Sir Wyn Williams, head of the statutory inquiry into the scandal, for similar failures in disclosing important documents.
Former subpostmaster Christopher Head wrote to Post Office CEO Nick Read, demanding answers on how the document ended up online, noting the distress and anger of those affected by the data breach. Victims of the scandal continue to fight for compensation, with the government recently passing a law overturning convictions of those whose appeals were still pending.
Jasvinder Barang, a former subpostmistress, expressed shock and anger over the data breach, highlighting concerns about online and physical safety. Ron Warmington, a partner at Second Sight, emphasized the irony of the Post Office’s breach of confidential information, given their emphasis on confidentiality during investigations.
The Post Office may now face regulatory scrutiny from the Information Commissioner for potential data breaches, with potential fines under the Data Protection Act. The scandal, first revealed by Computer Weekly in 2009, is considered one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in British history.