Tom Hedges, a sub-postmaster from Lincolnshire who was wrongfully accused of theft, insists that the individuals behind the Post Office IT scandal should be publicly identified. His comments track closely with those in a recent inquiry report, which painted the human toll of the fiasco as catastrophic. A malfunctioning computer system was found to be at fault for thousands of false theft accusations, leading to many ensuing convictions. The document, penned by Sir Wyn Williams, severely rebuked the Post Office for its conduct, which it described as decidedly improper and a trigger for suicides, financial ruin, and torn families.
Mr Hedges, who previously managed the Hogsthorpe post office near Skegness for 15 years, found the report’s verdict unsurprising. According to him, the Post Office had long been aware of the faulty nature of their system which frequently generated inaccurate figures. However, the organisation chose to lay the blame on individuals rather than rectify the problem. He vilified the firm for its inexcusable actions. Following the report, the Post Office issued an unconditional apology for what it termed a ‘disgraceful era’ in its history and is currently considering the report’s implications. A subsequent report is in the works to explore the origins of the scandal and assign responsibility where it is due. Aged 72, Mr Hedges eagerly awaits this disclosure, arguing that having been himself wrongfully stigmatised, it’s high time those accountable for the fiasco should also bear public disgrace.
The original version of this story was first reported by www.bbc.com and has been adapted by The Lincoln Post for its readers.
