The recent ITV drama and documentary about the Post Office Horizon scandal has sparked renewed interest in the public inquiry, which has been ongoing for nearly two years. This week’s hearing saw a significant increase in the number of journalists attending, many of whom were new to the inquiry. The scandal involved the Post Office falsely blaming subpostmasters for accounting shortfalls caused by their own faulty retail and accounting system, Horizon. Subpostmasters were forced to cover phantom losses that only existed in the computer system, and many faced prosecution based on this inaccurate data. The introduction of the Horizon software in the late 1990s led to financial hardships for subpostmasters, resulting in bankruptcies and ruined lives. Over 900 subpostmasters were convicted of crimes such as theft and false accounting, but nearly 100 of these convictions have been overturned, and the government plans to legislate to exonerate the rest. Despite the gravity of the Post Office’s actions over the past 25 years, the scandal received little coverage from mainstream media until the recent ITV programs. The media attention is now growing, and the government is taking action to address the injustices faced by subpostmasters. The inquiry is currently in its fourth phase, focusing on the Post Office’s prosecution practices, and the hearing room was filled with reporters and former victims. The inquiry’s live coverage on TV news channels and newspaper websites was a first. The increased public awareness of the treatment of subpostmasters was evident in the rapid growth of an online petition calling for the removal of the former Post Office CEO’s CBE. The government has responded to the public pressure by announcing plans to quickly overturn the convictions of around 800 former subpostmasters through legislation. While the drama and documentary played a role in raising awareness, the decision was supposedly based on existing plans. However, there is evidence that government officials previously denied the possibility of exoneration. The subpostmasters attending the inquiry expressed gratitude for the increased media attention, which has helped shed light on their experiences. They hope that this spotlight will lead to financial redress for all affected individuals. Overall, the public is now more aware of the Post Office Horizon scandal and is demanding accountability from the government.
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