Unisys has launched an investigation into its role in the distribution of the Post Office’s Capture accounting software, which is now being linked to potential wrongful prosecutions and the suffering of sub-postmen.
Following the broadcast of ITV’s long-running Post Office scandal drama Horizon, former subpostmen came forward who had similar problems with the pre-Horizon Capture software they used for their accounts.
Computer Weekly has learned that Unisys pre-installed the software, developed by the Post Office’s IT teams at the Farnborough centre, into the hardware before it was distributed to subpostmen, but was not involved in the software development.
Unisys has so far not responded to Computer Weekly’s questions about its role, but has now confirmed that it has launched an internal investigation “given the importance of the matter”.
“We know that the issue of Post Office Horizon has attracted significant public attention in the UK and we sympathize with the sub-postmen and their families who have been affected.
“Given the length of time that has passed and the difficulty in locating documentation from such a distant past, we are currently unaware that Unisys developed the software at issue. Given the importance of the matter, we still launched an investigation.
The Post Office also cited transit time as a reason it could not identify where the software was developed.
Computer Weekly determined that the software was developed by the Post Office, although the organization itself said that investigations were unable to identify which company created the software.
A Freedom of Information response said: “We are currently unable to find the information you have requested from our records, but please note that the Post Office is conducting an investigation into Capture, following serious concerns raised.
“Given the passage of time, some 30 years ago, and the changes in data storage systems since the Post Office separated from the Royal Mail Group, we do not yet have a full picture of Capture, but we are progressing with our investigations as quickly as possible. We will continue to update our website with the findings.”
Labor MP Kevan Jones, a campaigner for justice for unauthorized Horizon users, also supports former subpostmen who have suffered unexplained losses using the Capture system.
“Why can’t the post office answer basic questions about how many people have received and used this software? Why were known bugs in the software not taken into account when subpostmen experienced glitches and unexplained anomalies?” he said.
He added that Post and Unisys have a responsibility to provide answers.
Read also: What you need to know about the Horizont scandal.
Watch: ITV documentary on Post Office scandal, Mr. Bates vs. the Post Office: The True Story.
Computer Weekly first exposed the scandal in 2009, revealing the stories of seven postmen and the problems they had with the Horizon system (see the timeline of Computer Weekly articles below).