The government has reached out to former subpostmasters for a meeting next month to address the recent findings about the Capture IT system, which has been linked to significant financial hardships.
Those who used the Capture accounting software will hear about the government’s response to a forensic investigation by Kroll. This investigation suggested a strong possibility that Capture, like the notorious Horizon system, caused accounting errors for which subpostmasters faced blame. The Capture system was in use during the 1990s and adds another layer to the ongoing Post Office scandal, which began with the Horizon software introduced in 1999.
In a landmark 2019 High Court ruling, it was established that Horizon had created unexplained financial shortfalls, leaving many subpostmasters financially devastated. Some even faced wrongful convictions for crimes they did not commit, with over 100 individuals jailed. This scandal has been labeled one of the largest miscarriages of justice in UK history.
Following an ITV dramatization of the scandal, more former subpostmasters have shared their experiences with the Capture system. Like their Horizon counterparts, many faced prosecution and devastating financial losses. The government’s response to the Capture situation has been swift, contrasting sharply with the two-decade delay in addressing Horizon’s impacts.
Currently, about 80 individuals who used Capture have sought help from Hudgell Solicitors for their cases. While Capture was used by around 2,000 branches, much less is known about its problems due to the long time that has passed and the number of users who have since died.
Steve Marston, a subpostmaster convicted in 1996 for theft and false accounting after a near £80,000 shortfall using Capture, is among those waiting for justice. His conviction is under review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), along with others from that time. He received an email about an upcoming online meeting set for December, where the government plans to discuss its next steps.
Charlotte Heyes from the Department for Business and Trade assured in her email that the government is finalizing its response to the Kroll investigation and is in close cooperation with the CCRC to review the submitted cases. Heyes hopes to schedule the meeting for mid-December to inform affected subpostmasters about the forthcoming response.
Another impacted subpostmaster, Steve Lewis from South Wales, experienced a downfall after being told his losses were an isolated incident. This led to the loss of his business, his home, and significant mental health struggles. He reflected on the momentum gained as Capture claimants stepped forward following the hard-fought battle of Horizon victims, advocating for equivalent compensation and exonerations.
Peer Kevan Jones, a long-time advocate for justice, emphasized the undeniable wrongs experienced by these individuals and pushed for a compensation scheme that rectifies the identified injustices, including overturning wrongful convictions.
A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade expressed shock over the Capture system’s issues. They are examining Kroll’s report thoroughly and maintaining open communication with affected individuals. A response detailing the next steps is set to be announced in December.
There’s also a call for former Crown branch workers and subpostmasters who used a system known as ECCO+ to come forward if they faced similar issues. Civil servants recently consulted with subpostmaster representatives to gather insights about ECCO+, which was marketed to them in the 1990s. Two former users of the ECCO+ system have reached out for legal representation.
David Enright, a partner at Howe & Co Solicitors, representing many subpostmasters, stressed the need for fairness in addressing the grievances related to ECCO+, calling for an equal review alongside Horizon and Capture.
