Horizon IT pilot scheme first showed up major flaws 25 years ago

The Horizon system falsely attributed losses and discrepancies that led to private prosecutions of sub-postmasters brought by the Post Office – UNPIXS

A Horizon IT pilot scheme first showed up major flaws 25 years ago, prompting a warning to the Post Office that a “tragedy was not far away”.

Sub-postmasters trialling the new system compiled a litany of complaints in seven pages of notes submitted to the Post Office. The trials ran in 300 Post Offices in the north east of England in 1999, prior to its roll-out to 18,000 branches.

Details of the note emerged during the public inquiry into the Horizon scandal but appear to have been ignored. Hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted and at least four people committed suicide as a consequence of being wrongly accused of fraud and theft over the next 15 years.

Minutes, taken at a meeting of the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters (NFSP) held at Newcastle rugby club in June 1999, stated: “There was general discussion on the severe difficulties being experienced by sub-postmasters who are already running an automated system.

“The difficulties and trauma being experienced by some sub-postmasters were giving rise to concerns for their health and emotional wellbeing. It was felt by some that a tragedy was not far away if something was not altered soon.”

The NFSP described the software as “poor quality and not intended to run such a huge network”.

The Horizon system falsely attributed losses and discrepancies that led to private prosecutions of sub-postmasters brought by the Post Office.

Labour MP Kevan Jones, a member of the Horizon compensation advisory board and who has campaigned for justice, said he was aware of three prosecutions brought against sub-postmasters who had used Horizon during the pilot programme. He said a fourth sub-postmaster had been bankrupted as a result of being on the pilot programme.

“The pilot showed it didn’t work and quite clearly as early as 1999 there was clear evidence  there were bugs in the system. So why did the Post Office press ahead and prosecute people?”

%n

Sign up to the Front Page newsletter for free: Your essential guide to the day’s agenda from The Telegraph – direct to your inbox seven days a week.