The head of investigations at the Post Office has revealed that court rules on computer evidence could be changing in light of the Post Office scandal. John Bartlett, director of assurance and complex investigations at the Post Office, testified at a recent public inquiry, expressing his expectation for a return to pre-1999 rules.
In 1999, a legal presumption was introduced regarding how courts should consider electronic evidence, which ultimately led to a significant miscarriage of justice involving subpostmasters. The change in rules allowed the Post Office to prosecute individuals based on data from the Horizon system, leading to wrongful convictions for crimes like theft and false accounting.
Following the airing of a dramatisation of the scandal on ITV, numerous convictions have been overturned or are pending review. The scandal has sparked calls for a change in the legal rule that made it easier for the Post Office to prosecute innocent individuals.
During the public inquiry hearing, Bartlett emphasized the need for law enforcement to verify digital data thoroughly, as the assumption that computer systems could be relied upon has been challenged. The Post Office had previously supported the 1999 law change that eased prosecutions using computer evidence.
The Horizon software used by Post Office branches was found to produce inaccurate figures, leading to unjust prosecutions. The scandal, first exposed by Computer Weekly in 2009, has been described as the widest miscarriage of justice in history.
Academics, lawyers, and tech experts have long campaigned for a change in the rules governing computer evidence, and the Post Office scandal has brought renewed attention to this issue. The public inquiry continues to shed light on the injustices faced by subpostmasters and the need for reform in the legal system.