Paula Vennells

New research that explores the critical issues posed by the Horizon Scandal, the lessons for lawyers’ ethics and corporate governance – both within and beyond the scandal itself - as well as lessons for a criminal justice system that failed, has been released.

The Post Office Project, which numbers among its team doctors, lawyers, industry experts as well as a wide-ranging advisory board, has released a report that seeks to learn from the scandal.

At the beginning of its research, its stated goals were understanding the ethical problems for lawyers the scandal highlighted, as well as those concerning miscarriages of justice. It also aimed to look at the wider criminal justice system and ways it – and the justice system as a whole – might be improved using insight from the scandal and its court case.

It worked with victim-survivors, lawyers and others to develop practical, well-evidenced insights into the scandal that could make a difference moving forwards.

The new report focuses on the lived experiences of victims of the Post Office Scandal, detailing the complex harms faced by subpostmasters and their families. It emphasises a need for tailored support to address the ongoing psychological and social impacts of the scandal.

It also found that:

  • Victims faced stigma and reputational damage due to wrongful accusations

  • Financial impacts included loss of income and financial instability

  • Psychological effects included PTSD, depression and suicidal ideation among victims and their familieYou can read the report in full here

You can read the full report here and our summary of the enquiry itself here. 

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