Quotation Marks

Our findings have important implications for victims of the Post Office Scandal

Post Office Scandal victims suffering from PTSD and depression, study shows

Post Office Scandal victims suffering from PTSD and depression, study shows

“Alarmingly high” numbers of Post Office Scandal victims suffer depression and PTSD symptoms, a new study shows.

Those accused of problems caused by the Horizon IT failures have severe psychological and social harms. This is true whether they were convicted or whether they have received financial compensation, researchers have found.

The study is the first to measure the mental health of individuals involved in the scandal.

Researchers surveyed 101 victims who were wrongly accused, convicted and/or investigated for financial ‘losses’ that were actually caused by software errors. Most reported clinically significant post-traumatic stress (67 per cent) and depressive (60 per cent) symptoms—irrespective of the outcome of their case.

The study was carried out by Bethany Growns, from the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, Jeff Kukucka, from Towson University, and Richard Moorhead and Rebecca Helm from the University of Exeter Law School.

Professor Moorhead, who leads an ESRC funded project on the scandal, said: “Our findings have important implications for victims of the Post Office Scandal and highlight the unique needs of people impacted by flawed convictions and flawed legal accusations. The research underscores the need to provide exonerees with support and demonstrate that this support should also be extended to victims of wrongful accusation.”

Prevalence of clinically significant PTSD and/or depressive symptoms were much higher than those seen in the general UK population and higher even than those seen in other vulnerable populations – including UK Armed Forces personnel and UK frontline health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor Helm said: “Victims of the Post Office Scandal are experiencing poor mental health at worryingly high levels. This highlights the need to put in place mental health support for all those accused, regardless of conviction, as well as to complete the process of settling financial compensation cases.

“We found no differences in the severity of mental health symptoms between respondents who were convicted of criminal offences and respondents who were investigated, prosecuted and/or pursued in civil court. These findings provide the first evidence that wrongful accusation may be just as damaging to mental health as wrongful conviction.”

Professor Moorhead said: “Our data highlight the importance of reliable investigation practices within the criminal justice system. Our results suggest that an erroneous accusation or investigation is not without consequence for the accused, even if it does not result in a wrongful conviction or civil liability. This underscores the need to ensure that all civil and criminal investigations are conducted responsibly and professionally using evidence-based techniques from commencement.”

Participants were sub-postmasters recruited via e-mails sent to organizations supporting victims of the Scandal and a law firm representing many victims as clients, as well as subsequent snowball sampling through those individuals. After the survey, each participant received their choice of either a £25 Amazon voucher or a £25 donation to the Horizon Scandal Fund on their behalf.

Participants completed the PCL-5 survey, which measures trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Most exceeded the recommended cut-off scores for clinically significant post-traumatic stress symptoms and clinically significant depressive symptoms. Most participants also met clinically significant cut-offs for PTSD Criteria B (82.47 per cent), C (81.63 per cent), D (80.61 per cent) and E (73.47 per cent; with 63.37 per cent meeting all four criteria and thus showing a profile consistent with PTSD.

AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement
Latest News

Legal job numbers increase but applications decline

Fri Sep 29 2023

BARBRI candidates outperform SRA average by 13%

Fri Sep 29 2023

Justice delayed as thousands of cases wait more than two years to be heard

Thu Sep 28 2023

Solicitors warned over immigration services

Thu Sep 28 2023

New report highlights the transformative effects of domestic abuse training on family lawyers

Wed Sep 27 2023

Asylum seekers stranded on Diego Garcia win challenge against return to Sri Lanka

Wed Sep 27 2023

UN and coalition of NGOs write to Unilever to voice deep concern regarding victims of violence at Unilever tea plantation

Tue Sep 26 2023

Live Facial Recognition: How to Stay Within the Law

Tue Sep 26 2023

Ethics Institute launches taskforce to examine legal services to oligarchs and kleptocrats

Mon Sep 25 2023
FeaturedThe Law Society intervention ensures liberal approach to dealing with concurrent problems on legal aid
The Law Society intervention ensures liberal approach to dealing with concurrent problems on legal aid
Jeanne Kelly elected President of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce
Jeanne Kelly elected President of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce
Families continue to be victims of a broken justice system
Families continue to be victims of a broken justice system
Call for compensation scheme extension to help more abuse survivors
Call for compensation scheme extension to help more abuse survivors
SJ Interview: Hannah Ambrose
SJ Interview: Hannah Ambrose
Whose human rights are more important, yours or mine?
Whose human rights are more important, yours or mine?