Ethical conduct of the UK Post Office in relation to the Horizon Scandal

This article will detail the Post Office and Horizon scandal (United Kingdom), from the implementation of the system to the wrongful accusations and fallout from the High Court case that found the system utterly unfit for purpose. Four ethical theories will be detailed: Foucault’s ethics, Utilitarianism, Deontology, and Sartrean Existentialism. The Horizon scandal represents a significant ethical failure within the Post Office, according to notions of accountability, transparency, and corporate responsibility. The primary ethical issue was the lack of accountability from the Post Office management. Despite repeated reports of problems with the Horizon system, the Post Office continued to rely on its data to prosecute sub-postmasters. This shows a disregard for the responsibility they held over the system's accuracy and the lives of their subpostmasters. In light of the Horizon scandal, and as a means to attempt to regain public trust, there should be reforms under four headings: Improved Oversight; Greater Transparency; Compensation and Rehabilitation; and Ethical Training. Compensation and Rehabilitation implies providing adequate compensation and support for those wronged by the scandal and ensuring that their reputations are restored. Ethical Training means implementing comprehensive ethical training programmes within the organization to foster a culture of accountability and fairness.