London, 8 July 2025 — More than 900 former sub-postmasters, wrongly prosecuted due to faults in the Post Office’s Horizon computer system, have awaited justice for years. The first volume of the official inquiry into the post office scandal, released today by Sir Wyn Williams, centres on the profound human impact and urgent need for effective compensation schemes.
At a public event held at The Oval cricket ground in London, several victims of the post office scandal gathered to hear the findings in person, reflecting on their experiences and responding to the recommendations within the report. The inquiry’s revelations mark a significant milestone but also underscore ongoing challenges in delivering resolution for those affected.
Faulty Technology Led to a Crisis of Injustice
The Post Office Horizon IT system, introduced in the late 1990s, was designed to streamline branch accounting but instead generated false shortfalls in sub-postmasters’ accounts. Between 2000 and 2014, these erroneous deficits were often interpreted as theft or fraud, leading to the prosecution of over 900 sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses across the UK.
Sir Wyn Williams’ report details how the system’s flaws remained unchallenged for years due to institutional failings, with devastating consequences for those accused. Many were convicted and some even jailed based on inaccurate data that wrongly suggested they had stolen money from their branches.
“The impact on people’s lives has been catastrophic,” Sir Wyn said during the report’s launch. “This is a story of failure not only of technology but of governance, accountability, and compassion.”
Personal Stories Illustrate the Depth of Harm
Victims gathered at The Oval shared poignant testimonies illustrating how the scandal irreversibly altered their lives.
Tracy Felstead, falsely convicted at just 19 for allegedly stealing £11,503 from Camberwell Green Post Office, described the emotional toll. “It doesn’t matter how much therapy I go through or compensation I receive I will never get that time or reputation back,” she said. Tracy’s conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal in 2021, yet she continues to await full compensation. “For me, getting up in the morning without this weighing down on me would be the best thing ever.”
Seema Misra, whose conviction in 2010 came while she was pregnant, and who served part of her sentence from prison on her son’s 10th birthday, expressed mixed emotions. “I feel heartbroken, angry, and happy,” she said. “It took far too long to get here. Hopefully, the government will act swiftly on the report’s recommendations to accelerate compensation payments.” Seema rejected the Post Office’s recent public apology as insufficient, stating, “I don’t accept their apologies until they are held accountable.”
Kathy McAlerney, a sub-postmistress from Northern Ireland terminated from her contract in 2008 after unexplained shortfalls, spoke about the exhausting wait for justice. “We have been waiting decades. It’s exhausting.” She hopes the inquiry’s findings will finally bring closure.
Sami Sabet, a former businessman turned sub-postmaster, pleaded guilty to fraud charges in 2009 to avoid imprisonment despite his innocence. His conviction was quashed in 2021. Sami highlighted severe health impacts linked to the stress, including a heart attack and vision loss during surgery. “Stress has shortened my life considerably,” he said. While awarded some compensation for health damages, Sami still awaits payments for lost earnings and businesses.
Inquiry Report Calls for Comprehensive Redress and Accountability
A central focus of Sir Wyn’s report is the urgent need to overhaul the Post Office’s compensation mechanisms. The report criticised previous efforts as “bedevilled with unjustifiable delays,” causing additional trauma for victims.
Legal experts and campaigners argue that the government must act swiftly. Jo Hamilton, a former sub-postmistress and leading campaigner, said: “The government is under pressure like never before to ‘get a grip on redress’ because Sir Wyn’s inquiry has laid bare the full scale of the horror they unleashed. It is unacceptable that millions continue to be spent contesting claims that have already been proven legitimate.”
The report also paves the way for further investigations into who within the Post Office and related institutions bears responsibility for this miscarriage of justice. Sir Wyn emphasised that accountability will be essential in preventing a recurrence.
Historical Context and Broader Impacts
The Post Office Horizon scandal is regarded as one of the most significant miscarriages of justice in modern British history. At the height of the controversy, victims faced public humiliation, financial ruin, imprisonment, and lifelong stigma.
Between 2000 and 2014, the Horizon software, supplied by Fujitsu and introduced nationwide in 1999, was the backbone of branch finance management. However, numerous system faults, such as unexplained accounting discrepancies, were routinely attributed to human error or theft by sub-postmasters.
The Post Office pursued aggressive legal action to recover supposed losses, often ignoring serious concerns about the software’s reliability. Until recent years, sub-postmasters found it nearly impossible to challenge the Post Office’s claims without access to detailed system data. Several have reported suffering mental health problems, bankruptcy, divorces, and even suicides linked to the stress of wrongful prosecutions.
The public and parliamentary outcry eventually forced the launch of a statutory inquiry chaired by Sir Wyn Williams in 2020, with the first volume of his findings unveiled today.
Reform and Reparation
The inquiry sets out detailed recommendations to reform compensation schemes, streamline claim processes, and introduce mechanisms to prevent such failures. Experts warn, however, that the scale of the backlog and complexity of cases mean compensation payouts will require sustained government commitment.
Legal analyst Professor Helen Curtis of University College London said: “This report is a watershed moment, but more than symbolic recognition is needed – practical, speedy payments and systemic reform must follow.” She added that setting a precedent for corporate and governmental accountability will influence similar cases internationally.
The government has pledged to study the report’s recommendations closely. A Post Office spokesperson said: “We deeply regret the distress caused and are committed to making prompt amends through fair compensation and better governance.”
Conclusión
The Post Office scandal exposed profound flaws in technology, institutional oversight, and justice in the UK. The first report from the official inquiry brings long-sought clarity on the scale and human cost of the crisis. For the victims, like Tracy Felstead and Seema Misra, it offers recognition and hope, though many warn the journey to full reparations remains challenging.
As the nation reflects on this shameful chapter, the imperative now is clear: robust reforms, honest accountability, and urgent justice for those whose lives were irreparably damaged.
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