Post scandal -survivors have exposed themselves to deep trauma, study finds

The survivor of the horizon scandal of the post office has experienced a deep trauma and can feel newly victimized, as a study has noted.

Academics have shown how deep life is affected by the scandal and continues to be influenced, which after the BAFTA award winner ITV drama, MR Bates, has achieved public awareness.

The study shows how the trauma of the postal behavior of the post through the life of the sacrificial families has been brought through and how many were newly victimized in every phase of their struggle for justice.

The research of the University of Exeter and UCL releases how the stigma of the wrong charges and financial ruin destroyed the life of subpost masters and those who have close to them.

It also shows how with a controversial legal system for justice and bureaucratic and slow legal remedies often caused a secondary new victimization.

The experts say that their experiences show that it is necessary to reform the legal system so that it serves the victims better.

The research report describes how delays before the judiciary as well as legalistic and controversial procedures caused and exacerbated psychological and emotional damage.

This has been retraumatized many subpostmasters over the years.

They are suspicious of the institutions of governments and mechanisms of the judiciary and the post office, and although many positive effects on the examination have had, some do not yet have the feeling that they have full truth about what happened.

The report by Dr. Sally Day, Professor Richard Moorhead and Professor Rebecca Helm from the University of Exeter and Dr. Karen Nokes from the UCL was carried out as part of her post office project.

They interviewed 26 former subpostmasters, six partners, two children and one siblings.

Dr. Day said: “We would like to express our deepest and heartfelt thanks to everyone who agreed to help us in this project.

“Our interviews show that the complex damage to those affected and their relatives are experienced.

“We found adversity and victims, but also stories about determination, hope and solidarity.”

Professor Moorhead said: “What stands out from this work is the way an unjustified accusations of the mail has spread in the life of the accused and their families.

“With the exception of the ongoing examination, formal answers tended to be cold and controversial, which was harmful to the victims.”

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“Some aggressive and stressful harassment and victimization experienced, including the spit and reception of misuse letters, telephone calls and e -mails.

“There were clear 'ripple effects' – the reputation damage often ranged to their families and those affected could not get away from the stigma.”

This work is based on two previous studies carried out by this project team.

One documented a high degree of PTSD and depression in victims and survivors.

In a follow-up examination in 2024, the wavy effect of damage from the scandal was examined for “secondary victims” such as partners and children who had similar, extraordinary PTBS and depression.