Exeter researchers expose Post Office scandal

A team of researchers from the University of Exeter has won a prestigious national award for their crucial work in supporting victims of the Post Office scandal.

The team was recognized with the ‘Outstanding Societal Impact’ prize at the ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize 2024 for their efforts to uncover the truth and fight for justice for hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters.

For years, sub-postmasters across the UK were wrongly accused of crimes like theft and fraud, based on errors in the Post Office’s Horizon computer system. Many of these individuals lost their livelihoods, faced financial ruin, and were convicted of crimes they didn’t commit.

The Exeter research team, led by Professor Richard Moorhead, Dr. Rebecca Helm, Sally Day, Dr. Karen Nokes, and Paul Gilbert, has been at the forefront of the fight for justice.

Their research dug deep into the causes of these wrongful convictions, uncovering how poor legal advice and professional misconduct by lawyers contributed to the scandal. It also explored the huge emotional and mental toll these false accusations had on the victims, some of whom suffered severe stress and trauma.

One of the team’s most significant contributions was helping to simplify the process for victims to have their names cleared.

Instead of forcing each individual to go through a long and complex appeal process, the research helped pave the way for a blanket exoneration. This was a huge win for the victims, allowing them to start rebuilding their lives without the burden of proving their innocence one by one.

The team’s findings also had a wider impact, prompting the Legal Services Board to take action by improving regulations around lawyer conduct and professional ethics.

Their research on the mental health impacts of the wrongful accusations even shaped the recommendations for compensation for the victims, which is still an ongoing process.

Professor Moorhead, reflecting on the award, said, "This work has been about more than just research. It’s been a privilege to work alongside the sub-postmasters, whose resilience and dignity in the face of such injustice is truly inspiring. They’ve been through so much, and it's their strength that drives us to keep pushing for change."

The ‘ESRC Celebrating Impact’ Prize recognizes researchers whose work has made a real difference in society. In addition to the honour, the team received a £10,000 grant to help continue their important work, expand their research, and promote their findings even further.

This award highlights the power of research to create meaningful change and ensures that the victims of the Post Office injustice are not forgotten. The team’s work continues to shape the ongoing inquiry and provides hope that justice will eventually be fully served.