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There's some more detail here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/09/how-the-post-offices-horizon-system-failed-a-technical-breakdown https://www.theg

There's some more detail here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/09/how-the-post-offices-horizon-system-failed-a-technical-breakdown https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/09/how-the-post... It only mentions a few bugs out of the hundreds that were discovered (a full list hasn't been published), but it appears that the bugs weren't the only issue: > In 2015, for instance, the Post Office told the House of Commons inquiry: “There is no functionality in Horizon for either a branch, Post Office or Fujitsu to edit, manipulate or remove transaction data once it has been recorded in a branch’s accounts.” This was untrue, and the Post Office admitted as such four years later during a high court case. > In fact, staff at Fujitsu, which made and operated the Horizon system, were capable of remotely accessing branch accounts, and had “unrestricted and unaudited” access to those systems, the inquiry heard. It's truly a scandal that no-one in charge at the Post Office or Fujitsu has been prosecuted for providing false testimony that led to so much misery and death for the sub postmasters. The MET has finally started to investigate fraud and perjury charges which seems like they only bother investigating crimes that have been made into a popular four-part series.

throwaway167 3y ago
> In fact, staff at Fujitsu, which made and operated the Horizon system, were capable of remotely accessing branch accounts, and had “unrestricted and unaudited” access to those systems I worked in core banking systems for a bit. This is beyond basic, it demonstrates Fujitsu do not have controls in place to design compliant systems. Fujitsu should forever have their reputation tarnished and never let near financial systems. I don't often advocate selling a business to Tata, but this might be one of those times.
makomk 3y ago
The Met's had an investigation open over this since 2020, all that seems to have happened as a result of this popular four-part series is that they've confirmed they're looking into specific possible criminal offences by the Post Office or its employees that we didn't know they were looking in to before. It's not clear that this is something which started investigating because of the popular TV series, but most likely not and they were just pressured into revealing more about the existing investigation - the police here don't generally give running updates on criminal investigations to the media.
IshKebab 3y ago
Have they really "finally started to investigate". They opened an investigation in 2020, apparently interviewed 2 people and then gave up. What have they done recently?
- ndsipa_pomu 3y ago
  Apparently so, but they're not forthcoming with more details as it's an active investigation now since the TV series is drawing attention to the scandal. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67899189 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67899189
  - IshKebab 3y ago
    From that article: > Two people have been interviewed under caution but nobody has been arrested since the investigation was launched in January 2020. Exactly what I said.

throwaway167 3y ago

> In fact, staff at Fujitsu, which made and operated the Horizon system, were capable of remotely accessing branch accounts, and had “unrestricted and unaudited” access to those systems I worked in core banking systems for a bit. This is beyond basic, it demonstrates Fujitsu do not have controls in place to design compliant systems. Fujitsu should forever have their reputation tarnished and never let near financial systems. I don't often advocate selling a business to Tata, but this might be one of those times.

makomk 3y ago

The Met's had an investigation open over this since 2020, all that seems to have happened as a result of this popular four-part series is that they've confirmed they're looking into specific possible criminal offences by the Post Office or its employees that we didn't know they were looking in to before. It's not clear that this is something which started investigating because of the popular TV series, but most likely not and they were just pressured into revealing more about the existing investigation - the police here don't generally give running updates on criminal investigations to the media.

IshKebab 3y ago

Have they really "finally started to investigate". They opened an investigation in 2020, apparently interviewed 2 people and then gave up. What have they done recently?

ndsipa_pomu 3y ago
Apparently so, but they're not forthcoming with more details as it's an active investigation now since the TV series is drawing attention to the scandal. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67899189 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67899189
- IshKebab 3y ago
  From that article: > Two people have been interviewed under caution but nobody has been arrested since the investigation was launched in January 2020. Exactly what I said.