Sir Wyn Williams has published the first volume of his final report on the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, in which he described the human impact of the scandal as “profoundly disturbing” and called for urgent action to ensure full and fair compensation is delivered.
He highlighted how postmasters and their families had had their lives torn apart, with the scandal linked to at least 13 suicides.
He said: “Many people have, inevitably, suffered emotional turmoil and significant stress in consequence. Many businesses and homes have been lost. Bankruptcies have occurred. Marriages and families have been wrecked.
“Between 2000 and 2013 in England and Wales, and for some time after 2013 in Northern Ireland and Scotland, postmasters and others suffered the trauma of criminal prosecution, conviction, and punishment and, for some, punishment meant lengthy periods of imprisonment. I received reports that some people held liable for shortfalls became ill as a consequence; tragically I heard, too, of people of whom it is said that they were driven to take their own lives.”
Laid before Parliament on Monday, Williams made 19 urgent recommendations to resolve issues that are hindering full and fair redress, including that:
- The Government and the Post Office should agree on a definition of ‘full and fair’ compensation, and this should be followed when deciding the level of compensation to offer.
- Horizon Shortfall Scheme claimants should receive legal advice, funded by the Government.
- Close family members of people affected by the Horizon scandal should receive compensation.
- The Government should create a standing public body which will create, administer, and deliver schemes for giving financial redress to people who have been wronged by public bodies.
- Fujitsu, Post Office and the Government should publish a report by 31 October 2025, outlining a programme for restorative justice (or the actions they’ve taken so far to produce this programme).
- Williams expects the Government (and where appropriate Post Office and Fujitsu) to provide a written response to his recommendations by 10 October 2025.
The 162-page report featured 17 case studies of Horizon victims, illustrating the devastating ways in which their lives had been impacted. These included Susan Sinclair, who was a postmistress in Stuartfield, Aberdeenshire. Shortfalls occurred in her branch accounts and in February 2003, the branch was audited and an apparent shortfall of £10,700 was discovered. Susan was prosecuted for embezzlement and sentenced to 180 hours community service, which she undertook during and after pregnancy.
Following her suspension, the report cited that Susan had been the subject of much local hostility and significant adverse publicity and that upon her conviction, she was the subject of further adverse publicity.
In September 2023, Susan became the first person in Scotland to have her conviction quashed following a trial in which data from Horizon formed part of the prosecution case.
Robert Thomson, who was the postmaster at a convenience store and post office in Cambus, near Alloa, Clackmannanshire also featured in the report after a shortfall of around £7,000 led to him being charged with embezzlement.
Following his conviction, there was significant adverse publicity in the local media and he was “branded a thief”. His children were teased and bullied at school and his mother became reclusive and depressed because she was “so embarrassed and ashamed”. When she later died, Robert felt that the events surrounding his conviction had contributed to her ill health. Robert and his family were put under increasing financial pressure and he suffered from depression and developed suicidal thoughts. On one occasion, he walked to a local bridge with the intention of jumping to his death.
On 24 January 2024, Robert’s conviction was quashed unopposed, on appeal by the High Court of Justiciary.
Williams explained that he had chosen to publish the report in two volumes in order to expedite the delivery of his recommendations.
He said:
“No purpose would be served by HM Government or the Department delaying consideration of my recommendations until the remainder of my Report is delivered.
“The whole reason for delivering this volume of my report in advance of the remaining volume is that appropriate action in relation to the schemes for redress can be taken as soon as reasonably possible.”
In response to the report, Post Office Chair Nigel Railton, said:
“I would like to make a clear and unequivocal apology to every single person affected by this scandal on behalf of Post Office.
“The Horizon Scandal is not one event. Lots of people made choices over two decades which caused serious harm to so many people. Post Office did not listen to postmasters and, as an organisation, we let them down. Postmasters and their families have suffered years of pain. It has taken them too long to clear their names and, in many cases, to receive redress.
“I welcome Sir Wyn Williams’ report, and I am grateful to those postmasters who gave evidence to the Inquiry. It is through their personal stories that we understand the human impact of this scandal.
“I will do everything in my power to make sure that affected postmasters receive the redress they are entitled to, as soon as possible.
“Post Office will carefully review the report and provide a full response to the Inquiry by 10 October 2025, as requested by Sir Wyn.”
You can read a Summary of the Inquiry here
The full Volume 1 Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report is available here
