IoM businesses can learn from UK Post Office scandal

Forensic investigation firm says too much trust was placed in data

Businesses on the Isle of Man can learn from the UK Post Office scandal.

That’s the belief of a forensic investigation firm, based in Douglas, which says issues with the Horizon system show how too much trust can be placed in data.

Hundreds of sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses in the United Kingdom were wrongly convicted, between 1999 and 2015, following issues with the faulty Fujitsu software.

The story was televised earlier this year in a three-part drama on ITV called ‘Mr Bates vs The Post Office’.

Rob Kinrade, the chief executive of Expol, said: “The Post Office scandal is, sadly, an example of how too much trust can be placed in data and allowed to override common sense.

“The data gathered from new software suggested that hundreds of trusted and diligent sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses had, for no apparent reason, all suddenly started committing acts of fraud.

“Of course, there are many other factors at play in this complex case but there are some lessons that can be learned by all organisations.

“This scandal – and the human tragedy caused by the miscarriages of justice that followed – could have been nipped in the bud by diligent investigations that were then backed-up by thorough inquiries, and of course by managers then making the right decisions based on those findings.”

He spoke to Manx Radio’s political correspondent Phil Gawne:

The Isle of Man Post Office has previously confirmed it never used the Horizon software.

You can listen to the full interview by clicking HERE.