Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry

What Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry does

The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry is an independent public statutory inquiry established under the Inquiries Act 2005, chaired by Sir Wyn Williams, and funded by the UK government through the Department for Business and Trade. It was initially established as a non-statutory inquiry on 26 February 2020 and converted to statutory status on 1 June 2021. The Inquiry investigates the implementation and failings of the Post Office Ltd's Horizon IT system, drawing on findings from the Bates and others v Post Office Limited Group Litigation and the Court of Appeal's quashing of criminal convictions in R v Hamilton and others. It conducted seven phases of hearings between February 2022 and December 2024, covering human impact, the Horizon IT system, operations, action against sub-postmasters, redress and access to justice, and current practice and procedures.

The Inquiry's core products are its published reports, witness statements, hearing transcripts, and dedicated engagement platforms. The most significant deliverable to date is Volume 1 of the Final Report, published in July 2025, containing 19 recommendations on compensation and redress for affected sub-postmasters. The Inquiry also operates the "In Your Own Words" listening project, launched in March 2024, through which 337 affected individuals have shared their experiences via web forms, downloadable PDFs, and engagement events. Publication output in 2025 reached 13,554 documents comprising 161,723 pages, alongside 21 witness statements totaling 356 pages. A Health Paper examining the scandal's physical and mental health impacts was published in September 2025.

The technology stack is a conventional public-sector website platform: postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk delivers published reports and statements, YouTube provides live-streamed hearings with a three-minute delay, Microsoft Office Forms supports surveys and event registration, and ReciteMe provides accessibility and translation. YouGov was engaged to issue and aggregate the Phase 7 survey. A partnership with The Postal Museum, announced September 2025, delivers the Legacy Project to permanently mark the scandal in UK history. The Inquiry has no commercial revenue model; it is funded by the UK government and operates independently to fulfil its statutory functions. Following the conclusion of hearings, the Inquiry is now finalising the remaining volumes of the Final Report, conducting the Maxwellisation process under Rule 13 of the Inquiry Rules 2006, and preparing the transfer of its records to The National Archives.

Name

Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry

Legal name

Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry

Website

https://postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry is an independent UK statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005, chaired by Sir Wyn Williams, investigating the failings of the Post Office's Horizon IT system. It serves affected sub-postmasters and the public through published reports, hearings, and the In Your Own Words listening project.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry is an independent UK statutory public inquiry established under the Inquiries Act 2005 to investigate the implementation and failings of the Post Office's Horizon IT system and its impact on sub-postmasters. Its core outputs are seven phases of public hearings, published reports and witness statements, the In Your Own Words anonymous listening project, and a final report with recommendations on compensation and redress (Volume 1 published July 2025).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• In Your Own Words: The Inquiry's anonymous listening project which aims to gather the experiences of those impacted by the Horizon scandal, outside of the Inquiry's proceedings.

Products and services

• In Your Own Words Listening Project Anonymous listening project that provides a safe and confidential platform for individuals affected by the Horizon scandal to share their experiences online, both through web forms and downloadable PDF submissions. Over 300 people have participated since its launch.
• Public Hearings (live-streamed) Public hearings of the Inquiry conducted across seven phases from 2022 to 2024, covering human impact, the Horizon IT system, operations, action against sub-postmasters, redress, and current practice. All hearings are live-streamed via the Inquiry's YouTube channel with a 3-minute delay and made available with transcripts.
• Final Report (Volume 1) Volume 1 of the Inquiry's final report, focusing on the human impact of the Horizon scandal and 19 recommendations on compensation and redress. Published in July 2025.
• In Your Own Words Health Paper Second paper published by the In Your Own Words listening project, examining how people's physical and mental health were affected by the Horizon scandal. Based on testimonies collected through the platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Volume 1 of Final Report published July 2025 focusing on human impact and compensation
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• The Postal MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2025The Inquiry is working with The Postal Museum on the Legacy Project, which aims to mark the Horizon scandal in the nation's history and ensure its effects cannot be forgotten. The Postal Museum, an independent museum and archive in London, will help create a lasting legacy for the scandal with input from sub-postmasters. Laura Wright, CEO of The Postal Museum, stated they are proud to work with the Inquiry and that it is crucial those affected can tell their stories in their own words.
• YouGovcoreOthersYouGov, a global public opinion and data company, was engaged to issue and aggregate the Phase 7 survey for current Sub-Postmasters and Horizon Shortfall Scheme applicants. YouGov processes survey results on behalf of the Inquiry to ensure the survey is fair and unbiased.
• PAM WellnesssupportingOthersPAM Wellness provides free, confidential, emotional and psychological support services to those who participate in the In Your Own Words project and engagement sessions. This service is available to attendees of engagement events.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Iraq Inquiry (Chilcot Inquiry): UK statutory inquiry chaired by Sir John Chilcot on the UK's involvement in Iraq. Architecturally a like-for-like comparison: Inquiries Act framework, multi-phase hearings, large document disclosure programme, published final report with recommendations directed at government - though here the Inquiry closed rather than continuing publication.
• Leveson Inquiry: UK inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the press, chaired by Lord Justice Leveson. Comparable statutory-powers framework, multi-party evidence, hearings across multiple sites in the UK, and a final report whose recommendations have shaped (and continue to shape) UK regulatory policy.
• Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Statutory UK inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 chaired by Sir Martin Moore-Bick investigating the Grenfell Tower fire. Comparable in governance structure, statutory powers, multi-phase model, victim-engagement programme, and final report recommendations directed at government and regulated entities.
• Infected Blood Inquiry: UK statutory inquiry chaired by Sir Brian Langstaff examining the scandal of infected blood products in the NHS. Strongly comparable on victim-impact engagement (analogous to In Your Own Words), statutory compulsion of evidence from public bodies and suppliers, and recommendations for compensation and redress schemes.
• Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales: A large UK statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 with multiple investigation strands, comparable disclosure scale, victim-and-survivor engagement programme (analogous to In Your Own Words), and a published final report with wide-ranging recommendations.
• UK COVID-19 Inquiry: A UK statutory public inquiry established under the Inquiries Act 2005, chaired by Baroness Hallett, investigating the UK's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The closest structural analogue to the Horizon IT Inquiry: same legal framework, same compelled-evidence powers, multi-phase hearings, large-scale document disclosure, and published recommendations to government.
• Bloody Sunday Inquiry (Saville Inquiry): UK public inquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday chaired by Lord Saville of Newdigate. Architecturally comparable on Inquiries Act framework, longest-ever inquiry at the time, large-scale evidence and witness handling, and findings directed at accountability of state actors.

Regional players

• Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Australia): Australian statutory royal commission with analogous Terms of Reference and structure - public hearings, compelled evidence, victim engagement programme, large final report with recommendations to government and institutions. Comparable as a non-UK statutory truth-and-accountability commission rather than a direct domestic competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgijUpaux8X4Nvjx3TmrHhg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/post-office-horizon-it-inquiry

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry