The Post Office is facing heavy criticism after reports surfaced that its social media accounts are deleting, suppressing, and blocking comments concerning the Horizon IT scandal. This scandal has left many subpostmasters struggling for compensation.
At least two users, including a former subpostmaster, found themselves blocked for calling out the scandal and urging quicker payouts. Numerous comments echoing these concerns have also vanished from the platform. While the Post Office claims it will investigate, Sir Alan Bates from Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance is not holding back. He calls this behavior an attempt to control the narrative.
People are expressing their frustration online. One now-blocked TikTok user reacted to a promotional video, stating, “How I feel when I think of the subpostmasters who the Post Office didn’t think about.” Another comment pointed out how hundreds of innocent subpostmasters face prosecution. Even comments accusing the Post Office of brand management over genuine accountability have been removed.
Former subpostmaster Lee Castleton, who lost everything due to this scandal, finds it odd that the Post Office hasn’t learned from past errors. In his words, “The only people trying to save the reputation of the Post Office are the very ones damaging it.”
Others, like Peter Murray, have also faced blocking for voicing their concerns. He describes the Post Office’s actions as a desperate attempt to obscure the Horizon scandal. MP Kate Osborne termed the Post Office a “disgrace” for trying to silence affected individuals. She emphasizes that those harmed by the scandal deserve to be heard and compensated properly.
Additional comments critical of the Post Office’s actions are stuck in a “folded” section on TikTok, making them hard to see. Phrases like “Remember when you destroyed people’s lives?” highlight the ongoing anguish over the situation.
Bates is also furious about the compensation process, calling it a “quasi-kangaroo court.” He received an offer that was less than half of what he initially claimed. His group of 555 subpostmasters took part in a landmark legal action against the Post Office, and between 1999 and 2015, over 900 of them were wrongfully prosecuted due to errors in the Horizon system.
Heather Tingle points out that the organization seems intent on burying the scandal’s memory, dismissing the concerns of those still affected. Janet Skinner, who had her wrongful conviction overturned in 2021, expressed outrage over the Post Office’s priorities. “The lack of compassion and accountability is staggering. They show zero concern for the lives they’ve affected.”
In response to the backlash, the Post Office stated that it would investigate the matter further. A spokesperson acknowledged the issue raised, highlighting that many newer postmasters aren’t connected to the Horizon problems. They also mentioned that the public has multiple ways to contact them regarding the scandal.
This controversy traces back to Computer Weekly’s 2009 exposé, which revealed the heart-wrenching stories of subpostmasters harmed by Horizon software, marking one of the largest miscarriages of justice in British history.
