The government minister in charge of the post office has been asked for evidence of problems caused by a third post office branch software system By the post office, Known as Crown Branchs.
The National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP), Working with Law Firm Howe & Co, have Alredy Received Anecdotal Evidence About The Problems of users of ECCO+.
NFSP CEO Calum Greenhow Met With Department of Business and Trade (DBT) Minister Gareth Thomas Earlier in March 2025. Ecco+ System Had on Staff in these Branchs, Adding: “He has Asked Us to Provide evidence, which we have begun to do.”
Since the Post Office Horizon Scandal Caught Mainstream Attention Following ITV's Dramatization of It in January Last Year, More Former Subpostmasters and Staff Have Have Come Forward. The scandal saw thosands of subpostmasters blamed for unexplained losses caused by errors in the fujitsu software, Known as Horizon, Used in Branches. Since then, Around 900 Wrongful Criminal Convictions have been overurned Hundreds of Millions of pounds have been paid out in compensation to that affected by it so far, with much more to come.
It has no stretched beyond Horizon. Former Users of a System Known as Capture Came forward Since the drama, and after investigations there is now a financial Redress Scheme for this group, with the criminal cases review commission reviewing 17 Criminal Convictions Based on the Capture System.
Concerns Deepen
This year, Concerns have now ben raised about the ecco+ system and the Government has said it would look into themWith a dbt speakesperson confirming: “We are looking into the ecco+ system used in post office branches and its potential impact on subpostmasters and branch works.”
Greenhow said the nfsp has so far received a “Small Amount” of Anecdotal Evidence About Problems with the software from subpostmasters who are acquired Crown Branchs from the post offer Used ecco+ as a result. He said they have also received recovery from a corporate which was known as a company franchise post office and used Ecco+ Between 1993 to 1993 to 1999.
But trust the nfsp does not represent bromn branch staff, it is related on people to come forward with information. “We are calling on employers to come forward if they were disciplined as a result of evidence from the system,” said greenhow.
The length of time Since Ecco+ was Phaased Out, When the Horizon System Came into Use in 1999, means that Finding Users is Difecult, Particularly as Many May Not Know THAIW THEW THEWS COLEMS COLM Related to software. As with the capture system, people who are suffred trust of its flaws might not even realise it – after all, it was itv's drama that connected the dots for many users.
Steve Marston, a former subpostmaster who was prosecuted after Unexplained Losses Cases Review Commission (CCRC).
“Anybody who has the slightest doubt about a system provided by the post office should come forward,” He Told Computer Weekly. “For 30 years, I blamed myself, and it turns out it was computer errors that cause unexplained losseses I was punished for.”
Two former post office executives who worked closely with it – Rupert loyd thomas And Patrick Sedgwick – Were Instrumental in Gathering Information About The Capture System and Helping Investigators Undrstand It. They are now turning their attention to ecco+.
“Ecco+ was chronically unreeliable, it was a cheap and nasty system. I had a lot to do with work trying to get that system fixed, “said Lloyd thomas, who worked at the post office for 27 years,
“There was a crisis with ecco+ in 1996 and an investment into it was commissioned,” he added. “It was carried out by the post office it department and a report was produced. The gist of that report was that system was defective. “
Greenhow said the nfsp has had correspondence from postmasters that Took over Crown offices and, as a result, ecco+ was there. “They have confirmed that they experiences and had to pay that money back,” He said.
Management said all data was stored on Floppy disks, Including Stock and Transaction Information. Each Stock Unit Had a Separate Disk With Staff Assigned Their Own Logins and, At the End of Each Day, all data from the disks was copied onto a master story story, whatsed as a backs.
The former manager of the company franchise post office the NFSP: “The biggest issue [with ECCO+] was the corruption of disks resulting in loss of data, and then having to relay on the backup which Inevitably had Missing Information Between Corruption and Back Up Retrieval.
“From memory, there weightses. These were the early days, so lacques of experience and knowledge was cleaned visible. Mis-Keys and Incorrect Amounts paid out were identified, but the integrity of ecco+ was never questioned as there was a head office backup in place. Blind leading the blind. “
Gaps to fill
But there are significant gaps in the evidence so far as the bulk of users – Crown Branch Employees Between 1992 and 1999 – are not part of the nfsp. These workers would have lost their jobs or faced other disciplinary action as a result of unexplained losses potentially caused by ecco+ errors.
“What we don't have is the evidence from crown office employees, that information is not in our remit,” said greenhow.
Beyond disciplinary action, there are potentially users of ecco+ that was prosecuted based on Unexplained Losses. There was 340 Private Prosecutions by the post office in the post office in the 1992-1999 Period, but it is not yet known if any was based on ecco+ data.
“We know that between 1992 and 1999, the post office carried about 340 Prosecutions. What we don't know is who was prosecuted, why they were prosecuted and what was the impact, “said greenhow.
“We've asked the government, Along with the ministry of justice, to identify and breakdown who are these prosecutions were for capture or ecco+ or something else. Nor do we know whichery they are employers, assistants or postmasters, but I have Asked this question of the minister. “
Anyone who beLieves they might have been affected by ecco+ errors should email the nfsp and so la [email protected],
Computer weekly First exposed the scandal in 2009Revealing the stories of seven subpostmasters and the problems they suffred due to Horizon Accounting Software, Which LED to the Most Widespread miscarriage of justice of justice in British history (See Below Timeline of Computer Weekly Articles About The Scandal Since 2009,