Trust the IT? Governance lessons from the UK Post Office scandal

Overview

Recording date – 6 June 2024

While there has been some reporting about the UK Post Office scandal, a statutory inquiry  has flown largely under the radar in New Zealand.  There is more to come with a report on governance (Phase 6) to be delivered by the Inquiry later this year.

The Post Office Scandal, also known as the Horizons IT scandal, a significant event in UK history, highlighted critical governance issues such as the failure to disclose crucial evidence and the misuse of the Horizon IT system. The scandal led to the wrongful conviction of hundreds of post office workers due to accounting discrepancies, later found to be caused by faults in the Horizon system provided by Fujitsu.

This case has raised serious questions about corporate governance and the responsibilities of those in power, prompting a public inquiry and discussions on the importance of accountability in public bodies. The government's role in the scandal, particularly in terms of oversight and management of large contracts, has also been scrutinised, emphasising the need for transparency and integrity in public office.

Dr Roger Barker, Director of Policy and Corporate Governance at the Institute of Directors UK, joined us to talk about the way this scandal developed, its impact on the lives of those involved in this scandal, the role that board members played (or should have played) and the general lessons for directors and boards.

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