3 ms·
One of the bugs in the system was that one of the data entry screens which postmasters recorded their takings would routinely freeze. If you hit "Return" again
by Marazan 3y ago
One of the bugs in the system was that one of the data entry screens which postmasters recorded their takings would routinely freeze. If you hit "Return" again whilst the screen was frozen it would silently submit the figures again. So if you had £4000 of takings and submitted, got the frozen screen bug and hit return again then the Post Office thought you had £8000 of takings.
These were _incredibly obvious_ duplicate entry errors when the Post Office investigated but they blindly took the system as perfect and automatically assumed criminality on the part of the postmaster.
NOTHING about this makes any sense if you assume people on the Post Office/Fujitsu side were acting in good faith.
- ndsipa_pomu 3y ago> These were _incredibly obvious_ duplicate entry errors when the Post Office investigated but they blindly took the system as perfect and automatically assumed criminality on the part of the postmaster They did not blindly take the system as perfect, but instead they were well aware of the errors and instead decided to bully the sub postmasters and gain bonuses for successful prosecution. They knew exactly what they were doing and took pains to hide any evidence of the shortcomings of Horizon.
- mgkimsal 3y agoOutside of ego/reputation, I can't see what the coverup provided. Maybe that's all it was. Crazy.