The Put up Workplace’s second controversial accounting system, generally known as Seize, was developed in-house within the early Nineteen Nineties.
Following the explosion of public curiosity within the Put up Workplace Horizon scandal, considerations over a system that predated the software program have emerged. As with Horizon, the Put up Workplace prosecuted and punished subpostmasters who had unexplained shortfalls in its Seize system.
A supply instructed Laptop Weekly final week that the Seize software program was doubtless developed at a Put up Workplace centre generally known as iTFarnborough.
Whereas the Put up Workplace mentioned it was unable to disclose the provider of the software program, which contained errors that triggered unexplained losses, a press launch from 1992 reveals it was developed by the Put up Workplace centre. Laptop Weekly has additionally positioned a replica of the software program, which is branded with the Put up Workplace brand.
A press launch in 1992 from PC maker Compaq confirmed that the software program was developed by the Put up Workplace. It said that the brand new Seize system from Compaq “consists of Home windows-based software program specifically designed by iT, the Put up Workplace’s info know-how enterprise”.
Put up Workplace-branded Seize set up disk
Within the press launch, printed over 30 years in the past, the Put up Workplace mentioned: “It was vital for us to decide on a normal PC structure, reasonably than a proprietary Digital Level of Sale system, in order that new software program functions might be added to the techniques sooner or later. And since most sub-postmasters additionally run personal companies, we needed a machine that may run normal enterprise software program.”
On the time, the Put up Workplace mentioned greater than 1,000 subpostmasters had requested to be positioned on the precedence registration listing for the Seize system.
Following the latest ITV drama concerning the Put up Workplace Horizon scandal, a rising variety of former subpostmasters and former Put up Workplace workers have come ahead with tales of issues that they had with the Seize software program, which pre-dated Horizon
Described by customers as a “glorified spreadsheet”, Seize was a standalone software program used to computerise accounting in branches.
Subpostmasters have been blamed for unexplained shortfalls that occurred when utilizing the Seize software program, which the Put up Workplace knew was flawed. It nonetheless blamed and even prosecuted subpostmasters when auditors discovered unexplained accounting shortfalls.
Steve Marston, a former subpostmaster in Bury, Lancashire, was prosecuted in 1996 for theft and false accounting following an unexplained shortfall of practically £80,000. He mentioned 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.
“We have been pushed into utilizing it by the Put up Workplace in 1996,” he mentioned, describing it as a standalone system that required subpostmasters to purchase their very own computer systems to run the software program. Marston added that he felt pressured into utilizing the system at a time when many branches have been being closed by the Put up Workplace.
“Because the developer and distributor of this defective software program, the Put up Workplace has a accountability to offer solutions and have to be held accountable for the devastating influence it appeared to have on so many subpostmasters” Kevan Jones, Labour MP
Labour MP Kevan Jones, a campaigner for justice for wronged Horizon customers, can be supporting former subpostmasters who had unexplained losses when utilizing the Seize system.
“Affirmation that the Put up Workplace’s personal in-house IT staff developed the Seize software program simply raises much more questions than solutions,” he mentioned. “Why can the Put up Workplace not reply fundamental questions on how many individuals acquired and operated this software program? Why have been recognized faults within the software program not taken under consideration when subpostmasters skilled shortfalls and unexplained anomolies?”
He added: “Because the developer and distributor of this defective software program, the Put up Workplace has a accountability to offer solutions and have to be held accountable for the devastating influence it appeared to have on so many subpostmasters.”
Following a Freedom of Data (FOI) request, the Put up Workplace mentioned it doesn’t but know particulars of who equipped software program generally known as Seize to Put up Workplace branches within the Nineteen Nineties, to computerise accounts.
Floppy disks containing Put up Workplace Seize software program releases
Ask within the FOI request whether or not it may “present particulars of who equipped and made this software program and what number of Put up Workplace branches used this software program”, the Put up Workplace mentioned it was unable to. “We’re at present unable to find from our data the data you will have requested however please word that Put up Workplace is endeavor an investigation into Seize, following severe considerations which have been raised,” it mentioned.
The Put up Workplace added: “Given the passage of time, round 30 years in the past, and modifications to information storage techniques since Put up Workplace separated from Royal Mail Group, we don’t but have an entire image of Seize however are progressing our investigations as rapidly as attainable. We shall be persevering with to replace our web site with findings.”
• Additionally learn: What you want to know concerning the Horizon scandal.
Laptop Weekly first uncovered the scandal in 2009, revealing the tales of seven subpostmasters and the issues they suffered on account of the Horizon system (see timeline of Laptop Weekly articles beneath).
