Post Office Scandal Reveals 1,000 Wrongful Convictions, Dozens Suicides

The Post Office Horizon scandal, one of Britain's worst miscarriages of justice, wrongfully prosecuted approximately 1,000 subpostmasters between 1999 and 2015 due to faults in the Fujitsu-supplied IT system. The first volume of the public inquiry's final report revealed the devastating human impact, including suicides, bankruptcies, severe health problems, and family breakdowns, with 59 victims contemplating suicide and several tragically taking their own lives. Inquiry chair Sir Wyn Williams confirmed that senior Post Office officials knew or should have known about the system's errors but maintained its accuracy, leading to relentless prosecutions. The inquiry highlighted the Post Office's adversarial stance on compensation and called for a public body to administer fair redress, with about 10,000 individuals eligible for compensation claims. Campaigners like former subpostmistress Jo Hamilton emphasized the need for immediate implementation of these recommendations and the removal of government involvement due to its ownership of the Post Office during the scandal. The report underscores the urgent necessity for comprehensive support, including free legal advice and compensation for victims and their families.