Post Office scandal: All of your questions answered about the real-life story which inspired ITV drama

The Post Office scandal is a miscarriage of justice where sub-postmasters were wrongly accused of offences such as theft, fraud and false accounting, due to a defective IT system named Horizon.

Brand-new four-part ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office is sharing the stories of those affected by the scandal and their fight to prove their innocence, taking its name from the court case instigated by former sub-postmaster Alan Bates. 

Since the release of the drama, people are wanting to learn more about the scandal, those affected and what is being done today to resolve the scandal. 

Here are all of the most Googled questions about the Post Office scandal answered:

What is the Post Office scandal? 

The Post Office scandal is a miscarriage of justice, which took place between 1999 to 2015. During this time 700 sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses were prosecuted by the Post Office, who had the powers to do so at the time. 

The sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses were wrongly accused of crimes such as theft and fraud, which was based on information from a defective computer accounting system - Horizon. 

Some of those accused were sent to prison, leaving them financially ruined. 

Some campaigners against the scandal have since have had their convictions overturned, but not all. 

Who is Alan Bates?