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A new initiative is being launched to address the victims of the Horizon Post Office scandal. The program aims to bring together those affected by the scandal with representatives from Fujitsu and the Post Office in a restorative justice effort. The charity overseeing the scheme has confirmed that the first five months will serve as a pilot phase, with hopes of extending it over a five-year period and potentially including initiatives such as a special commemorative postage stamp.
The Horizon IT scandal, which falsely accused hundreds of sub-postmasters of embezzling Post Office funds, led to more than 900 sub-postmasters being wrongly prosecuted. Restorative justice, a process within the criminal justice system that seeks to repair harm, has been proposed as a means of addressing the injustices faced by these individuals. The face-to-face meetings under this scheme could start as early as December, with representatives from the Department for Business and Trade also likely to be involved.
While the restorative process is voluntary, victims have the opportunity to speak directly to specific individuals involved, such as former Post Office boss Paula Vennells. Previous restorative meetings have taken place between sub-postmasters and former Post Office CEO Nick Read, but the upcoming sessions could be the first to include representatives from Fujitsu. The aim of the program, according to the Restorative Justice Council (RJC), is to rebuild trust and support among those affected by the scandal.
The initial phase of the restorative justice program will run until March of the following year, offering a phone helpline and support service staffed by practitioners in the field. A full formal program is expected to be launched in April 2026, with funding contributed by the government, the state-owned Post Office, and Fujitsu. Current Post Office CEO Neil Brocklehurst emphasized the importance of establishing a lasting and meaningful restorative justice program, guided by the feedback of those who suffered as a result of the Horizon scandal. Fujitsu CEO for Europe, Paul Patterson, acknowledged the company’s role in the sub-postmasters’ suffering and expressed a commitment to ensuring lessons are learned through the restorative process
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