Unisys stated it has accomplished an inside evaluation of its involvement within the creation and distribution of the Submit Workplace Seize system and has discovered no proof that it developed the software program.
Thus far, the Submit Workplace and Unisys have revealed little concerning the software program, however the authorities is to nominate an IT professional to make clear the controversial Submit Workplace software program, which is being blamed for accounting shortfalls that might have led to wrongful convictions..
For the reason that Submit Workplace Horizon scandal hit the headlines in January, following ITV’s dramatization of it, former customers of the pre-Horizon system, who blame it for accounting shortfalls and even prosecutions within the Nineteen Nineties, have come ahead.
The Submit Workplace have claimed the passage of time and adjustments to knowledge storage techniques for the reason that Submit Workplace separated from Royal Mail Group imply it doesn’t have an entire image of the Seize system.
However it emerged that IT provider Unisys was concerned within the software program’s distribution. When pressed by Pc Weekly, Unisys agreed to research its personal function.
Now full, Unisys advised Pc Weekly its evaluation has revealed no proof that’s developed the software program. An organization spokesperson stated: “Our evaluation, which has now concluded, has not uncovered any proof that Unisys was concerned within the improvement of the Seize software program at situation.”
In February, Unisys stated: “We all know the Submit Workplace Horizon situation has drawn important public consideration within the UK, and we empathise with the subpostmasters and their households who’ve been impacted.
“Given the prolonged time that has handed and issue finding documentation from that far again, we’re at the moment unaware of Unisys creating the software program at situation. Given the significance of the matter, nevertheless, we now have launched an investigation.
Extra particulars are probably following the federal government’s plan to announce an IT professional to research the software program, which was utilized by former subpostmasters within the Nineteen Nineties, earlier than the introduction of the controversial Horizon system.
Described by customers as a “glorified spreadsheet”, Seize was a standalone software program used to computerise accounting in branches. Pc Weekly has copies of the software program, which incorporates Unisys and Submit Workplace logos all through. Unisys was concerned within the distribution of the software program to subpostmasters by putting in it on PCs, however past that its function has been unclear.
The federal government dedication to nominate an professional to research Seize, ought to make clear the lifetime of the software program and its errors.
Jason Coyne, the forensic IT professional who proved the Submit Workplace’s Horizon software program was error- and bug-ridden, stated he’ll perform an identical examination of the organisation’s controversial Seize system if the federal government requests it.
In January, MP Kevan Jones, who has campaigned for a few years for justice for subpostmasters affected by Horizon errors, started in search of solutions to why subpostmasters had been blamed for unexplained shortfalls that occurred when utilizing Seize. He highlighted proof that the Submit Workplace knew the system was flawed, however nonetheless blamed and even prosecuted subpostmasters when auditors discovered unexplained accounting shortfalls.
He was contacted by former subpostmasters and revealed their tales. These included former subpoistmasters Steve Marston and Steve Lewis.
Marston was a former subpostmaster in Bury, Lancashire. He was prosecuted in 1996 for theft and false accounting following an unexplained shortfall of practically £80,000. He stated that he had by no means had any issues utilizing the paper-based accounting system till his department, which ran from 1973, started utilizing the Seize system
Lewis, a former subpostmaster in South Wales, had labored for the Submit Workplace since 1983, initially as a counter clerk, and was a Submit Workplace auditor for numerous years.
When Seize was changed by Horizon, a courtesy stability was accomplished that confirmed a loss and Lewis was suspended. He misplaced his enterprise, needed to promote his dwelling and suffered psychological well being points with associated relationship troubles.
The Submit Workplace scandal was first uncovered by Pc Weekly in 2009, revealing the tales of seven subpostmasters and the issues they suffered because of accounting software program (see timeline of Pc Weekly articles concerning the scandal under).
