The British Post Office scandal involved the wrongful prosecution of over 900 subpostmasters between 1999 and 2015 due to faulty Horizon accounting software developed by Fujitsu. The software reported financial shortfalls, leading to convictions for theft and fraud. Despite known bugs, the Post Office denied issues, causing severe personal and financial hardships.
Investigations revealed Horizon's defects, leading to a £58 million settlement in 2019 and the overturning of many convictions. By 2024, over 100 convictions were quashed, with compensation costs exceeding £1 billion. The scandal highlighted governance issues and the Post Office's role as a private prosecutor.
The Horizon system, despite updates, remains controversial. The Post Office plans to replace it with a new cloud-based system, acknowledging significant flaws in the software that affected financial records.
Investigations revealed Horizon's defects, leading to a £58 million settlement in 2019 and the overturning of many convictions. By 2024, over 100 convictions were quashed, with compensation costs exceeding £1 billion. The scandal highlighted governance issues and the Post Office's role as a private prosecutor.
The Horizon system, despite updates, remains controversial. The Post Office plans to replace it with a new cloud-based system, acknowledging significant flaws in the software that affected financial records.