UK
Police investigate Post Office over ‘potential fraud offences’ after wrongful prosecution of subpostmasters
The Metropolitan Police is investigating the Post Office over “potential fraud offences” after the wrongful prosecution of subpostmasters.
The police confirmed on Friday that it is looking into the handling of the Horizon IT scandal – “such as the monies recovered from subpostmasters as a result of prosecutions or civil actions”.
Detectives are also separately looking into “potential offences of perjury and perverting the course of justice” in an investigation that was launched in January 2020.
Two people have been interviewed under caution, but nobody has been arrested.
Read more: The true story behind drama on Horizon IT scandal
Actor Toby Jones stars as Alan Bates in Mr Bates vs The Post Office. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock
‘A long overdue but welcome move’
Senior MPs who have campaigned for justice for subpostmasters wrongly prosecuted in the Horizon computer scandal have warmly welcomed the police investigation.
“This is a long overdue but welcome move,” former Labour minister Kevan Jones, one of the foremost campaigners calling for Post Office bosses to be held to account, told Sky News.
“The victims rightly have been fighting for compensation and the truth. Ultimately what they want is for people to be held accountable.”
Confirmation by the Metropolitan Police of an investigation into potential offences of perjury and perverting the course of justice follows the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office this week.
In a separate move, Mr Jones and Lord James Arbuthnot, whose campaigning for the subpostmasters while an MP was highlighted in the TV drama, are to meet Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk in the coming days.
They plan to urge Mr Chalk to give the go-ahead for the remainder of the wrongful prosecutions of 900 subpostmasters to be overturned. It is estimated that fewer than 100 have been overturned so far.
Mr Jones told Sky News: “The really scandalous thing is that since 2010, when Alan Bates to them to court, the Post Office spent £100m of taxpayers’ money defending the case.”
Former subpostmasters and subpostmistresses were held liable by the Post Office for financial discrepancies thrown up by its computerised accounting system Horizon.
Faulty Fujitsu software made it appear as though money was missing from their outlets.
The Post Office’s pursuit led to more than 700 prosecutions, criminal convictions and, in some cases, prison sentences.
Many of those pursued were told to plead guilty to crimes or face jail, according to lawyers who have represented dozens of those impacted.
They were forced to pay the Post Office money it claimed had gone missing, which meant many lost their jobs, homes and life savings.
It has been described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history, and a public inquiry into it is ongoing.
Read more:
Explainer: What is the Post Office scandal?
Post Office ‘massively contributed’ to subpostmaster death – widow
Victims of Post Office Horizon scandal offered £600k compensation
Paula Vennells was CEO of the Post Office from 2012 to 2019
More than half a million people have signed an online petition calling for the former Post Office boss to have her CBE taken away over the scandal.
Paula Vennells later said she was “truly sorry” for the “suffering” caused to subpostmasters who were wrongly convicted of offences.
After ITV aired a drama into the scandal, Mr Bates vs The Post Office starring actor Toby Jones, 50 new potential victims have approached lawyers, it has been said.