The Post Office’s Capture system, which was used by sub-postmasters before the controversial Horizon software was implemented, may have also had flaws, according to an investigation report. The report stated that there was a “reasonable likelihood” that the IT system may have caused shortfalls in cash accounts. Capture was used in Post Office branches from 1992 to 1999. Following this, the Horizon software became the centre of a scandal that has plagued the Post Office for years.
Post Office minister, Gareth Thomas, expressed his shock upon learning about the issues with the Capture system, stating that the Post Office’s priority should be to assess the extent of the problem and compensate those effected. The Horizon scandal saw hundreds of sub-postmasters prosecuted and bankrupted due to accounting shortfalls. Campaigners have argued for many years that the Horizon system was to blame. The Post Office has repeatedly denied this and continues to fight legal claims brought against it by sub-postmasters.
An ongoing Inquiry into Post Office fraud has heard witness accounts from affected sub-postmasters, which revealed serious issues with the way the Post Office managed contracts and investigated accounting shortfalls. The Inquiry hopes to bring some closure to those affected by the scandal and reform the Post Office’s approach to justice and compensation for victims of wrongful prosecution. The Post Office’s response to the Inquiry’s findings will be closely monitored by campaigners and victims of the Horizon scandal.
Despite the current focus on the Horizon software and the scandals caused by its implementation, the revelation that the Capture system may also have been faulty highlights the larger issue of systemic problems within the Post Office’s accounting systems. Fixing these problems will require a comprehensive review of the Post Office’s policies and procedures and a commitment to providing justice for those wronged by the Post Office’s past mistakes
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
