Unveiling the U.K. Post Office Scandal: Your Comprehensive Guide

The Metropolitan Police are currently investigating potential fraud offenses related to a long-standing scandal involving the Post Office and its wrongful convictions of employees due to faulty software. This scandal, commonly known as the “Post Office scandal,” has once again captured public attention with the recent airing of the TV series “Mr Bates vs the Post Office” in the UK. The show has brought forward new potential victims, prompting the police to take action.

The Met Police had already been looking into potential offenses of perjury and perverting the course of justice related to prosecutions and investigations conducted by the Post Office. This investigation was initiated in January 2020 following a referral from the Director of Public Prosecutions, according to an email statement from the police to TIME.

The potential fraud offenses are connected to the Post Office’s investigations and prosecutions, including the recovery of money from sub-postmasters as a result of these actions, says the law enforcement agency. As of Saturday, two individuals have been interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.

TIME reached out to the Post Office for comment on the matter.

The scandal itself involved hundreds of post office employees being wrongly accused after the Post Office’s financial software, called Horizon IT, showed discrepancies in its finances. The Criminal Cases Review Commission described this as the “most widespread miscarriage of justice” it had ever seen, leading to the largest series of wrongful convictions in British legal history.

So, what exactly is the Post Office scandal involving Horizon IT? The Horizon IT financial software services were developed and operated by Japanese tech company Fujitsu Services for the Post Office starting in 1999. Employees reported issues with the software from the beginning, but their concerns were dismissed by the Post Office, which often blamed individual branch managers for any problems.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission found that Horizon had significant bugs that could cause the system to misreport financial information, sometimes involving substantial sums of money. Sub-postmasters struggled to challenge these discrepancies due to a lack of access to information about the software.

As a result, between 1999 and 2015, over 700 sub-postmasters were accused of wrongdoing, leading to prosecutions, criminal convictions, and even prison sentences. Those found guilty were ordered to reimburse the Post Office for the alleged stolen money, which in some cases resulted in bankruptcy and financial ruin. Wrongful convictions also took a toll on the mental health and well-being of the victims and their families, contributing to addiction, illness, and even suicides.

The issues with the Horizon software were first reported by Computer Weekly in 2009 when it incorrectly stated the amount of cash at a post office. In the same year, aggrieved employees formed the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance Group to fight for justice.

In 2016, sub-postmasters initiated civil proceedings against the Post Office, with over 500 employees eventually joining the legal battle. In 2019, they won their case in the High Court, and the Post Office agreed to pay damages.

As of December, the government has paid out £124.7 million ($158.6 million) in compensation to wrongfully convicted postmasters. So far, 25 individuals have received full and final compensation for their overturned convictions, according to the Post Office. In September, the government increased its compensation offer to £600,000 ($763,500) for each victim, and all 2,417 current and former postmasters under the Horizon Shortfall Scheme have been offered compensation.

The recently aired TV show, “Mr Bates vs the Post Office,” has had a significant impact on the scandal. Starring Toby Jones as former sub-postmaster Alan Bates, who led the campaign for justice, the series has prompted 50 new potential victims to come forward, according to Neil Hudgell, a lawyer representing claimants. Post Office Chief Executive Nick Read expressed hope that the show would encourage anyone affected to seek the redress and compensation they deserve.

The TV show has also garnered public sympathy for the victims and increased demands for accountability in the Post Office scandal.

As of last year, no one from the Post Office or Fujitsu has been held responsible for their roles in the scandal. In 2019, the High Court ruled that the original Horizon system had numerous bugs and errors. Mr. Justice Fraser, the presiding judge, expressed his “grave concerns” over the case and forwarded his letter to the Director of Public Prosecutions, prompting further investigation by the police.

An official inquiry into the scandal has been ongoing since 2020, led by retired high court judge Sir Wyn Williams. The Metropolitan Police state that they are considering the actions of individuals connected with Fujitsu and the Post Office and are actively monitoring and gathering evidence from the public inquiry.

Following the High Court ruling, Paula Vennells, the Post Office’s CEO at the time, apologized for the suffering caused by the scandal. However, she stepped down in 2019 with a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire). A petition to strip Vennells of her CBE has gained over 700,000 signatures as of Saturday, compared to just 1,000 before the TV show aired.

Despite the scandal, the government extended its contract with Fujitsu for the Horizon software.