Restorative justice

The Restorative Justice Council launched the Horizon Project in September 2025, a restorative justice programme for people affected by the Horizon IT Scandal. The project is jointly commissioned and funded by Post Office, Fujitsu and the Department for Business and Trade, but the Restorative Justice Council is an independent organisation with over 25 years of experience. 

Restorative justice is separate to financial redress and seeks to address the emotional impact of the scandal to facilitate healing and accountability. It is an entirely voluntary process and the Restorative Justice Council can provide further information and support for anyone who is interested in taking part in the Horizon Project. It is also available to those who were impacted by shortfalls caused by Capture software.   

As part of its initial phase, Restorative Justice Council engaged 145 former and current postmasters through a series of sessions around the UK and online to ask their thoughts about what a full, national restorative justice programme should include.  

Following these meetings, the Restorative Justice Council published a report in October 2025 which set out its findings. The report describes what postmasters would like to see from restorative justice. 

The key points included: 

• the need for public acknowledgement and memorialisation of the injustices suffered and recognition of individuals’ unjust suffering 
• demand for personalised and meaningful apologies – whether public or private 
• opportunities for those affected to come together to share experiences and collectively seek national recognition 
• practical actions – for instance mental health support, family counselling, and opportunities for communal healing through leisure and therapeutic activities.

Over the coming months the Department, Fujitsu and Post Office will work together with the Restorative Justice Council to continue to listen to those harmed and ensure postmasters and their desires remain at the heart of the work to establish a practical, funded long-term programme. Plans for that programme will be announced in spring 2026 and are likely to evolve further in the light of experience, and of further understanding of postmasters’ views. 

A joint statement on the plan to further develop restorative justice was shared with the Inquiry in October 2025, in response to recommendation 19 of its Volume 1 report.   

This builds on and formalises work already undertaken at Post Office in this area. Our Chief Executive, Neil Brocklehurst, and other senior colleagues continue to meet with people affected across the country to apologise directly and to hear, first hand, their personal experiences. To date, over 70 of these meetings have taken place. Neil and his team have an open direct offer to meet any victim who wishes to do so, now with the support of the Restorative Justice Council. To get in touch with the Restorative Justice Council about this process, please see here.