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At Least 13 People Died by Suicide Amid U.K. Post Office Scandal, Report Says

(www.nytimes.com)
630 points xbryanx | 1 comments | 11 Jul 25 11:56 UTC | HN request time: 0.429s | source
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akudha ◴[11 Jul 25 14:03 UTC] No.44532288[source]▶
This was depressing to read. Failures at so many levels.

1. Immediately after Horizon was rolled out, issues were reported. But ignored

2. Prosecutors didn't bother to verify if there is another explanation before accusing thousands of people of stealing? Isn't it common sense to pause for a second and think, "could we please double check the evidence? how can thousands of postal workers suddenly turn into thieves?"

3. local newspaper had published a photo of her and labeled her the “pregnant thief.” - of course, UK tabloids. Click baits and write whatever the fuck they want, no matter whose lives are destroyed

4. post office has said that it does not have the means to provide redress for that many people - so they have the means to falsely prosecute and destroy the lives of thousands of people, but they don't have the means to correct their blunders?

This happened more than a decade ago. Citizens are expected to do everything on time (pay taxes, renew drivers license...) or get fined/jailed, but the government can sit on their butt for 10 YEARS and do nothing about a blunder they caused?

What about Fujitsu? Why can't the government make Fujitsu pay for the destruction caused by their shitty software?

Jeez. This is just fucking nuts

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s_dev ◴[11 Jul 25 14:46 UTC] No.44532731[source]▶
>2. Prosecutors didn't bother to verify if there is another explanation before accusing thousands of people of stealing? Isn't it common sense to pause for a second and think, "could we please double check the evidence? how can thousands of postal workers suddenly turn into thieves?"

They genuinely thought that the new software was uncovering a lot of theft that previously went undetected. This actually spurred them on even further thinking that the software was a godsend.

The sickening part is the people responsible won't ever see the inside of a prison cell despite sending many to prison for their failures.

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wat10000 ◴[11 Jul 25 15:58 UTC] No.44533692[source]▶
Rationalization is a powerful force. People rarely come to objective beliefs based on evidence. They come to beliefs and then search for evidence. In law enforcement, people tend to decide on a suspect and then look for proof. Hence why you so often see prosecutors and police fighting to punish innocent people, sometimes even after they've been proven to be innocent.
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akudha ◴[11 Jul 25 16:24 UTC] No.44534053[source]▶
In law enforcement, people tend to decide on a suspect and then look for proof.

Yikes, such people shouldn't be in working in law enforcement then

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flir ◴[11 Jul 25 17:32 UTC] No.44534904[source]▶
Everyone does it. You and me too. It's just how brains work. First the opinion, then the evidence to back up the opinion.
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1. rlpb ◴[11 Jul 25 21:12 UTC] No.44536828[source]▶
...and this is perfectly fine as long as one is willing to change one's opinion should the evidence demand it.