The Escalating Post Office IT Scandal: A Miscarriage of Justice Revisited
The Post Office IT scandal, which has already caused significant upheaval, has taken a distressing turn with the revelation that the number of convictions linked to the flawed Capture computer system has more than doubled. Sky News has reported that 21 cases involving the Capture system have been submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) for reevaluation, up from just eight before Christmas. This surge in cases underscores the growing concern that many sub-postmasters were wrongly accused of theft due to the system’s defects, much like the well-documented Horizon scandal that plagued the Post Office from 1999 to 2015.
The Capture System’s Role in the Scandal
The Capture accounting system, in use from the early 1990s until 1999, has come under scrutiny following a report last year that suggested it was likely responsible for false financial discrepancies in branch accounts. This revelation has cast a shadow over the convictions of hundreds of sub-postmasters who were accused of stealing money based on data from the unreliable system. The CCRC is now tasked with determining whether these convictions should be overturned, a process that could lead to cases being referred back to the Court of Appeal if significant new evidence or legal arguments are uncovered.
The Road Ahead for Capture Cases and the CCRC
Lawyer Neil Hudgell, representing the victims, has expressed optimism that the first cases could be referred to the Court of Appeal by the end of this year. However, he also cautioned that the next steps are still several months away, emphasizing the need for urgency given the advanced age of many victims. Hudgell described the affected individuals as "hideously damaged people" in need of peace of mind, urging swift action from the CCRC and all stakeholders involved. The government has already committed to providing "redress" to Capture software victims, mirroring the compensation scheme established for those affected by the Horizon system.
A Family’s Secret and the Fight for Justice
Among the cases submitted to the CCRC is that of Pat Owen, whose conviction for stealing from her post office branch in 1998 was kept a secret by her family for 26 years. Pat, a former sub-postmistress, received a two-year suspended sentence but died in 2003, her life altered by the stigma of the conviction. Her family has now come forward, revealing the profound impact of her ordeal. Juliet Shardlow, Pat’s daughter, recalled her mother returning from court "a different woman," and the family’s collective silence about the conviction, even within their extended family circle.
The Tragic Consequences of Flawed Evidence
The case of Pat Owen highlights the tragic consequences of flawed evidence and the failure of the justice system to consider the technical malfunctions of the Capture system. A key piece of evidence—a document summarizing the findings of an IT expert—indicates that the computer used by Pat had a faulty motherboard, which could have caused the discrepancies that led to her conviction. Shockingly, the IT expert scheduled to testify on her behalf never appeared in court, leaving Pat without a crucial defense. Her husband, David Owen, suspects that the expert’s disappearance may have been linked to his professional ties with the Post Office, a theory that adds another layer of injustice to the case.
A Path Forward for Justice and Compensation
The government’s announcement of a redress scheme for Capture software victims offers some hope for those affected, with around 100 individuals potentially eligible for compensation. However, the scars of the past cannot be easily erased. For victims like Pat Owen and their families, the road to justice has been long and arduous, marked by years of silence and suffering. As the CCRC reviews these cases, the emphasis must remain on delivering swift and meaningful resolutions, ensuring that those "hideously damaged people" can finally find the peace of mind they deserve.
