Mr Bates vs the Post Office: The Real Story

Toby Jones, star of docu-drama 'Mr. Bates versus the Post Office', here narrates a pure documentary about the Horizon affair, in which ordinary postmasters were prosecuted as theives for accounting errors caused by the software they were made to use. Basically, if you've seen the drama, this programme basically just demonstrates that it's a very thin fictionalisation: almost everything in the series actually happened. What's still missing (aside from full absolution and compensation for the victims) is an understanding of who knew what when; the later Post Office leadership showed at best catastrophically poor judgement, but it would be good to know who made decisions to lie (which led to the ongoing ruin of people's lives). More worrying even than the failure of the computer system is the complete rottenness of organisational culture. The whole sorry tale has finally caught light with the public, and it's not hard to see why.

My eyes were opened by this. I'd never heard anything about it. This is a very clear case of a large corporate taking advantage of the little man. It's also a very clear case of the power of the little man and all of his friends, and the power of people when they come together against bullies. In my opinion this is a must watch!

My eyes were opened by this. I'd never heard anything about it. This is a very clear case of a large corporate taking advantage of the little man. It's also a very clear case of the power of the little man and all of his friends, and the power of people when they come together against bullies. In my opinion this is a must watch!

A good documentary to accompany the ITV docudrama on the astonishing Post Office Horizon system scandal, which was somehow allowed to go on for such a long time to the detriment of hundreds of innocent people's lives and livelihoods who were left criminalised of theft due to a faulty IT system.

Although the documentary's limited available time could only touch on only a few of the sorry cases, it is an eye opener nonetheless, and helped to put some of the real victims faces in the context of this cruel miscarriage of justice story.

A fair question. Where was the the union that was supposed to be there from the start of this scandal to support the poor people members that were criminalised or sent to prison for nothing? Where?

It remains to see if anyones involved in the "cover up" are going to be held accountable for their roles, as renewed calls for justice on the case are being made for an appropriate and rightful closure. Perhaps, the time has come to even start considering dismantling the post office organisation in its present form and start again with something anew.

Finally, I'd like to close with the epilogue paragraph of an excellent article by Marina Hyde, a Guardian columnist.

".... I will say the Post Office scandal has hundreds of human tragedies at its heart - but it is not a natural disaster. These types of victims exist because there are perpetrators, and unless those involved are held to account, we will continue to present as a society with one rule and endless get-outs for executives, and quite another for the little people. The inquiry continues. The story continues. Stay angry, and keep watching."