Fact-based drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office retells events related to The British Post Office scandal, which has rightly been called one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history.
The series tells the stories of some of the sub-postmasters who were wrongly accused of theft and fraud by Post Office management. In truth, it was an error within the Horizon accounting system rolled out by the Post Office that created apparent cash shortfalls at certain Post Office branches.
In this article, we present a timeline of key events related to the Post Office scandal.
1999
The Post Office rolls out Horizon, a new accounting system developed by Fujitsu, across the UK.
2000
Sub-postmaster Alan Bates reports issues with Horizon. The Post Office denies these issues and insists he makes up the financial shortfall at his branch.
2000-2002
Faulty Horizon data results in more than 100 prosecutions of post office branch employees across the UK.
In May 2002, Shopkeeper Baljit Sethi contacts his local newspaper to report errors about Horizon at his Brentwood branch. The Post Office refute his claims.
2003
After refusing liability for the shortfall at his branch, Alan Bates has his contract terminated by the Post Office.
2006
In January 2006, Sub-postmaster Lee Castleton from Bridlington, East Yorkshire, fights a civil case against the Post Office after they accuse him of stealing £35,000 from his branch. He is forced to declare bankruptcy after losing the case.
2009
In September, Alan Bates and other victims of the Post Office scandal set up the Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance (JFSA). Their first meeting takes place in the Warwickshire village of Fenny Compton.
2010
Sub-postmistress Seema Misra is jailed after being accused of stealing £74,000 from her Surrey post office branch.
2012
In April, Paula Vennells is appointed as CEO of the Post Office.
Following pressure from MPs, an independent investigative team from Second Sight is appointed by the Post Office to conduct an inquiry into Horizon.
2013
In July, Second Sight conclude Horizon is faulty but the Post Office insist the system is effective. Later that year, sub-postmaster Martin Griffiths commits suicide after he is wrongly accused of stealing from his post office.
2015
Paula Vennells tells the business select committee there is no evidence of a miscarriage of justice.
2017
In March, legal action is filed against the Post Office by a group of 555 sub-postmasters led by Alan Bates.
2018
In December, Paula Vennells is given a CBE for “services to the Post Office and to charity.”
2019
In February, Vennells announces that she will step down as CEO at the Post Office.
In December, sub-postmasters reach an out-of-court settlement with the Post Office. This is a cost settlement and not compensation as the Post Office still refuses to accept liability.
Later that month, Vennells makes an apology to the sub-postmasters. She says: “I am truly sorry we were unable to find both a solution and a resolution outside of litigation and for the distress this caused.”
2020
In January, the Metropolitan Police begins an investigation into the Post Office scandal.
In December, the details of the 2019 cost settlement are made public. The sub-postmasters were awarded £58 million by the Post Office but as £46 million went on legal costs, they were only left with about £20,000 each. Meanwhile, six subpostmasters have their convictions quashed.
2021
In April, 39 sub-postmasters have their convictions overturned.
In May, a statutory inquiry looking into the scandal is announced.
In July, the government announces that wrongly convicted sub-postmasters will receive compensation of up to £100,000.
2023
In September, the government makes the announcement that wrongly convicted sub-postmasters will receive £600,000 in a full and final settlement.
In December, it is shown the Post Office has reduced its compensation pot for victims by almost half.
2024
At the start of January, Mr Bates vs The Post Office is shown in the UK. A few days after its airing, Paula Vennells returns her CBE following a petition calling for her to have it rescinded.
In February, the Post Office is accused of acting illegally after making claims in court that Horizon could not be accessed remotely.
In April, PBS broadcast Mr Bates vs The Post Office in the US.
At the time of writing, the public inquiry into the Post Office scandal is ongoing. More information can be found here.
Let us know your thoughts about the Post Office scandal in the comments below.