Inside Scotland’s Post Office scandal

For victims of the biggest miscarriage of justice in British legal history, this week is an important one. Paula Vennells, former chief executive of the Post Office, is set to face three days of tough questioning when she gives evidence to the inquiry into the scandal. Vennell’s highly anticipated appearance on Wednesday follows critical developments north of the border where, last week, the Scottish government announced it will push ahead with its own compensation scheme for subpostmasters. In an underreported but highly significant move, Scotland’s Crown Office also stripped the Post Office of its status as a specialist reporting agency. In the process, it inadvertently refocused attention back to Scotland’s rather unusual system — and how its unique ‘safety net’ set-up still failed dozens of hard-working employees.

On the south bank of Glasgow’s River Clyde in one of the city’s most notorious, and poorest, suburbs, the Gorbals Post Office can be found tucked amongst the area’s crumbling tenement flats and soulless high-rises.