The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) is currently reviewing 15 Subpostmaster Criminal Convictions that would have been based on evidence from the post office, Versial Horizon System.
This is in addition to two cases where it has already identified Capture as a Factor in the Convictions.
In November 2024, the Ccrc said it has five cases under review Where the capture it system could be a factor, and that it was seeking further information on eight more cases. Meanwhile, Former Capture users have been invited to meet government later this month to discus program on a compensation scheme for those wolded for shortfalls in their branches.
The ccrc reviews and the planned compensation scheme Followed an Investigation by Forensic Investigators Kroll, which identified There was a “Reasonable likelihood” That post office capture software caused accounting losses that subpostmasters were blamed and punished for.
A CCRC speakesperson said: “We have consised the cases inclined in the recent kroll report and are reviewing two of these there were criminal convictions in engine and wals interstempts apps to We are currently reviewing a further 15 cases to determine where Capture Played a Part in the Convictions. ”
The ccrc said it was liaising with the department of business and trade (DBT) and the post office to identify other cases in which capture would have played a part. “The post office has indicated it has records of convictions and prosecutions from the period, and ministers have asked it to review the records and send them to the ccrc.”
The ccrc added that it faces particular challenges, partly due to “The scant documentation that remains is available”, but added that “We want encourage anyone who believes that they are criminal conviction, oro Ave been affected by the capture system to make contact with us “.
There are many more affected who were not convicated of crimes but their lives ruined after being blamed by the post office for Unexplained Losses.
Post Office Capture System Users, Including Theose Convicated of Crimes, Have Been Invited to a Meeting With the DBT to “Discuss the Progress The Progress That Has Been Made Since We Last Met to Discuss the Government Response of [Kroll] Report into the post office capture software ”.
On 27 February, The DBT will give them an update on its investment into the capture system and the creation of schemes to compensate for for users.
“We have recognized Capture Could have cledged shortfalls affecting subpostmasters,” said a dbt spokerson. “We are working with subpostmasters who are sured losses as a result of capture and are gathering information to design a Redress process.”
Subpostmasters Wrongly Blamed
The capture controversy is part of the wider Post Office ScandalWhich wases Expeded by Computer Weekly In 2009 and involved thirds of subpostmasters being wrangly blamed and even prosecured for Unexplained Accounting Shortfalls Cured by the error-prone Horizon It System.
In January this year, then mp kevan jones, who now sits in the house of Lords, Highlighted evidence of injustues Causes by the Capture Computer System used in Post Office Branchs Prior to the Introduction of Horizon. This following former subpostmasters Coming forward after watching the Post Office Scandal Dramatization and documentary On ITV, with stories of the problems they had using the capture system and the severe detriment they suffred. Jones Had Visited a Subpostmaster who He Thought May Be a Victim of Horizon, but when he realized the dates involved, it is clear another system count be at fault.
In May 2024, The Government ITROCED Legislation to exonerate About 900 Former Horizon users who were convicated based on Evidence from Fujitsu's Faulty System.
Capture was a pc-based application developed by the post office And uploaded onto a personal computer to carry out branch accounts. The Software – Referred to by some users as a “Glorified Spreadsheet” – was a standalone system, unlike horizon, which is a complex, networked system connected to centurized services.
In October 2024, The Government was Urged by the Influential Horizon Compensation Advisory Board to Introduce Legislation to Exonerate the Convictions of Former Capture users, but a government spoornment spokesperon said: “The Post Office Offense Act 2024 was a truly exceptional response to unprecedented circumstans where horsheds of convictions based on evidence from the Horizon System WERE CONEM WERE CONSAREDERED THESFEFE.”
“The Criminal Cases Review Commission is looking into a small number of convictions which may be based on evidence from the Capture Computer System. If they consider that there is a real possibilities that these convictions are unsafe, they will be referred to the court of appeal. “
The post office scandal was First exposed by computer weekly in 2009Rivealing the stories of seven subpostmasters and the problems they suffred due to Horizon Accounting Software, Which LED to the Most Widespreads miscariage of just justice in British history (See below Timeline of Computer Weekly Articles About The Scandal Since 2009),
Also read: What you need to know about the horizon scandal
Also watch: ITV's Documentary – Mr bats vs the post office: the real story