1 “These Are Crimes That DIDN’T Exist!” Govt Vows To Overturn Convictions Of Post Office Victims
9 jan 2024
Ministers are drawing up plans to hasten the clearing of the names of hundreds subpostmasters who were wrongfully convicted in the Horizon scandal.
Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake told MPs on Monday that ways to overturn the convictions were being investigated, including possible legislation.
Mr Hollinrake hinted at a solution as soon as this week after the Government scrambled to take action after the miscarriage of justice was brought into the spotlight by an ITV drama.
Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells was coming under increasing pressure over her CBE after Rishi Sunak signalled he would support a committee looking into the honour.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said he would “strongly support” the Honours Forfeiture Committee if it decided to look at stripping the gong.
TalkTV’s Jeremy Kyle and Rosie Wright are joined by TalkTV political correspondent Alicia Fitzgerald and former Conservative adviser Charlie Rowley to discuss the story.
2 LIVE: Fujitsu employees give evidence at Post Office scandal inquiry
4 uur geleden begonnen met streamen
Fujitsu employees give evidence in Post Office Horizon IT inquiry.
Postmasters claim the Horizon accounting scandal came in two parts — a spree of wrongful prosecutions, followed by a cover-up that lasted a decade.
From May 2009, when the story broke in the media, there was a wave of protest and pressure on the central Post Office company from postmasters, their lawyers, and constituency MPs.
In public, bosses continued to back the Horizon accounting system, later proved to be riddled with bugs, as “robust”, including Paula Vennells, the former chief executive, who told MPs in 2015: “The system itself is working very well.”
3 Post Office Horizon scandal: ’62 Postmasters have been murdered by the Post Office’ | Seema Misra
4 ‘Five potential targets’ in Post Office investigation
“Why did it go wrong and who knew what?” There are “five potential targets” in the Post Office investigation, which will be watched “really closely” by the Metropolitan police, litigator James Hartley tells #TimesRadio.
5 ‘The Most Widespread Miscarriage Of Justice’ Mr Bates vs The Post Office | Good Morning Britain
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2 jan 2024
ITV Drama ‘Mr Bates vs The Post Office’ began airing this week. The Horizon scandal, described as “the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history”, resulted in more than 700 post office operators being prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 for theft, fraud and false accounting because of faulty accounting software installed in the late 1990s.
We speak with Alan Bates, founder of the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, who is portrayed by Toby Jones in the series, about his experience and fight against t the Post Office, resulting in a £58 million settlement for postmasters.
Broadcast on 02/01/24
6 Post Office scandal: ‘PRESSURE mounts on politicians’ to be accountable | ‘People took their lives’
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7 I was wrongly convicted of theft before the Horizon scandal, claims sub-postmaster
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18 jan 2024
Former sub-postmaster Steve Marston claims he was wrongly convicted of theft from the Post Office in the 1990s, years before the Horizon scandal. As a result, he became bankrupt, losing his home and gaining a criminal record.
A Post Office spokesman said: “We take very seriously the concerns that are being raised about cases from before the Horizon system was first rolled out in 1999, and we will of course assist in looking into such cases brought to our attention.”
8 I was wrongly convicted of theft before the Horizon scandal, claims sub-postmaster
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18 jan 2024
As the Post Office Inquiry continues to hear testimony, more and more details are coming to light about who knew what when.
Back in 2019, the Post Office spent at least a-hundred-million pounds still defending the Horizon system when more than five hundred subpostmasters won their landmark settlement.
Tonight, we’ve seen documents that appear to show that the Post Office Board was aware of the Horizon system’s failures back in 2013 – indeed it was so worried about a potential miscarriage of justice that it alerted its insurers.
9 Post Office Board knew about Horizon system flaws and exclusive document show insurers were alerted
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18 jan 2024
As the Post Office Inquiry continues to hear testimony, more and more details are coming to light about who knew what when.
Back in 2019, the Post Office spent at least a-hundred-million pounds still defending the Horizon system when more than five hundred subpostmasters won their landmark settlement.
Tonight, we’ve seen documents that appear to show that the Post Office Board was aware of the Horizon system’s failures back in 2013 – indeed it was so worried about a potential miscarriage of justice that it alerted its insurers.
10 Contaminated blood scandal: Will Post Office publicity speed up justice?
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17 jan 2024
The inquiry into the Post Office Horizon IT scandal has been hearing from more employees of Fujitsu after the tech giant’s bosses apologised yesterday for its role in the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of subpostmasters. (Subscribe: https://bit.ly/C4_News_Subscribe)
Also today, the victims of another scandal were told the final report of the public inquiry into what happened to them will be delayed again until May – after multiple holdups.
Nearly 5,000 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis through the use of contaminated blood in the 1970s, 80s and 90s – including Jonathan Evans.
He died in 1993 and his son Jason, who joins us remotely, helped lead the campaign for that inquiry.
Interim payments have been made to some of those directly impacted, but many have yet to receive a penny. And though they welcome the new rush of action for post office victims, they say ministers need to give the same level of attention to their fight for justice.
11 ‘They Have Deprived Us of Our Lives’ Horizon Scandal Victim Betty Brown | Good Morning Britain
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19 jan 2024
As the Horizon Post Office scandal continues to unfold, we speak with former sub-postmistress Betty Brown, believed to be the oldest victim of the Horizon scandal, who has blamed Post Office bosses for ‘destroying her life’. She reveals she was forced to pay her entire life savings to the post office, and was personally shamed despite the admission that they didn’t believe she had stolen anything.
We are also joined by Lee Castleton, who was portrayed by Will Mellor in the ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office.
Broadcast on 19/01/24
12 Post Office scandal: Fujitsu staff knew about bugs, errors and defects in the system for years
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19 jan 2024
The European boss of Fujitsu has admitted the company “clearly let society down” as he apologised again to subpostmasters and postmistresses over its role in the Horizon scandal.
Giving evidence to the public inquiry, Paul Patterson said Fujitsu staff had known about bugs, errors and defects in the system for years – but claimed the firm only became aware “latterly” that faulty data was being used in prosecutions.
13 Fujitsu boss cornered over Horizon scandal at Post Office Inquiry
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19 jan 2024
After sitting in front of the Business and Trade Committee earlier this week, director of Fujitsu Services Paul Patterson was at the Post Office inquiry this afternoon getting grilled yet again over his company’s faulty Horizon software.
14 Post Office Board knew about Horizon system flaws and exclusive document show insurers were alerted
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18 jan 2024
As the Post Office Inquiry continues to hear testimony, more and more details are coming to light about who knew what when.
Back in 2019, the Post Office spent at least a-hundred-million pounds still defending the Horizon system when more than five hundred subpostmasters won their landmark settlement.
Tonight, we’ve seen documents that appear to show that the Post Office Board was aware of the Horizon system’s failures back in 2013 – indeed it was so worried about a potential miscarriage of justice that it alerted its insurers.
15 The Post Office Scandal | IEA Podcast
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19 jan 2024 IEA Podcast
The Post Office scandal shocked the nation, but does it reveal widespread problems with public sector departments?
ITV’s hit drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office revealed one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in UK history. Over 900 sub-postmasters and postmistresses were incorrectly prosecuted as a result of faulty software which made it look like funds were missing. The drama highlights the ways in which their lives were ruined by a faulty computer system, a failing justice system, and a reprehensible government cover-up. The scandal has raised serious questions about a cherished British institution, as well as a fundamental problem with government ownership: lack of accountability.
Join Matthew Lesh, Director of Public Policy & Communications at the IEA, and Henry Hill, Deputy Editor at ConHome, where they discuss this grotesque miscarriage of justice, and what it says about the nature of government due process.
TV drama is a kind Story telling
16 Falsely Accused Former Postmasters: ‘Money Doesn’t Come with an Erase Button.’| Good Morning Britain
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11 jan 2024
Parmod Kalia and Janet Skinner were both wrongly convicted following false accusations of stealing thousands of pounds from their respective post offices. Despite having their convictions quashed in 2021 they are still waiting for compensation.
Former Postmaster Parmod Kalia was sentenced to six months in jail after being falsely accused of stealing £22,000.
Former sub-postmaster Janet Skinner served three months of a nine-month sentence in prison after being falsely accused of stealing almost £60,000 from the Post Office she ran.
Broadcast on 11/01/24
Both 3 months in prison
“It was not convenient to reveal a conviction and a cover-up. With the Post Office’s reputation ruined, one locks oneself in. Criminal convictions, not only those they did not commit, but ones that never took place.
17 Should Tony Blair have his knighthood stripped after ignoring warning over Post Office scandal?
18 “It Took An ITV Drama!” Julia Hartley-Brewer BLASTS Lack Of Action Over Post Office Scandal
9 jan 2024
TalkTV’s Julia Hartley-Brewer has questioned why government ministers only seemed to act over the Post Office scandal after an ITV drama.
More than 700 Post Office branch managers were given criminal convictions after faulty Fujitsu accounting software called Horizon made it appear as though money was missing from their shops.
There has been fresh public backlash to the scandal after ITV aired a drama starring actor Toby Jones last week about the scandal.
Ministers are drawing up plans to hasten the clearing of names of the hundreds who were wrongfully convicted.
Julia says: “People’s lives ruined, four people committed suicide as a result of this, people’s reputations, finances and marriages ruined.”
19 Post Office scandal victim: I was too scared to tell people my name because of allegations
20 Should ex-Post Office boss return £2m bonuses? Feat. Ann Widdecombe & Michael J Walker | Jeremy Vine
11 jan 2024
The Post Office controversy continues to gain pace, with a lot of the blame being placed with Paula Vennells, who said she would hand back her CBE.
Jeremy Vine on 5 is on television every weekday at 9:15am until 1:30pm on Channel 5.
21 Mr Bates vs The Post Office: The Real Select Committee – Nadhim Zahawi & Paula Vennells
4 jan 2024
Footage from ITV’s Mr Bates vs The Post Office is followed by the full exchange between Nadhim Zahawi and Paula Vennells at the real Select Committee hearing about the Post Office Horizon scandal on February 3, 2015.
Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee Hearing
Participants:
Nadhim Zahawi MP
Paula Vennells
Angela Van Den Bogerd
Ian Henderson
The ITV drama combines Ron Warburton and Ian Henderson into one composite character, Bob Rutherford.
Mr Bates vs The Post Office © ITV Studios 2024
Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee Hearing © UK Parliament 2015
22 Paula Vennells was ‘lying’ about Post Office scandal, claims forensic accountant
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23 jan 2024
It might have taken a drama to galvanise the response to a crisis – but the public inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal is gradually bringing more details to light, as hundreds of victims seek justice for their ruined lives.
The inquiry will be hoping to uncover more details when it examines a series of covert recordings. This programme has obtained a summary of some of the tapes – a meeting in 2013 between Post Office executives and the independent forensic accountants brought in to investigate.
23 “Fraudsters!” Mike Graham CALLS OUT Post Office Bosses Amid Horizon Scandal
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10 jan 2024
Mike Graham calls out eight top execs who worked at the Post Office during the Horizon scandal, earning big money while victims “suffered”.
It comes after the former Post Office boss Paula Vennells is set to hand back her CBE following the fallout of the Horizon IT scandal which led to the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of sub-postmasters.
The former chief executive, who ran Post Office while it routinely denied there was a problem with its Horizon IT system, was appointed a CBE in December 2018.
In a statement, Ms Vennells said: “I am truly sorry for the devastation caused to the sub-postmasters and their families, whose lives were torn apart by being wrongly accused and wrongly prosecuted as a result of the Horizon system.”
Mike says: “Let’s hope today’s events are the beginning of the end for these fraudsters, never again will they push the little people around!”.
24 “Heads HAVE To Roll!” – Lord Ed Vaizey Calls For Post Office Bosses To Face Prison After Scandal
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9 jan 2024
Ministers are investigating ways to speed up the overturning of wrongful convictions of subpostmasters under the Horizon scandal.
Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake told MPs he expected the Government to unveil a solution shortly, after holding talks with Justice Secretary Alex Chalk on Monday.
Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells was coming under greater pressure over her CBE after Rishi Sunak signalled he would support a committee looking into the honour.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said he would “strongly support” the Honours Forfeiture Committee if it decided to look at stripping the gong.
Lord Ed Vaizey says “heads have to roll” after the Post Office scandal to show big companies that “people who mess up deserve to go to prison”.
“Management assumed postmasters were ripping them off, new computer software confirmed their prejudices.”
25 ‘National outrage’: Piers Morgan calls for ‘accountability’ over UK Post Office scandal
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9 jan 2024
Sky News Australia host Piers Morgan says the UK Post Office scandal is “nothing less than a national outrage,” with more than 700 branch managers mistakenly convicted of false accounting, fraud and theft.
“We now know that was because of faulty software they were forced to install and use,” Mr Morgan said.
“They did nothing wrong; they weren’t criminals – men and women who were often the backbone of their towns and villages, running small businesses that provide an essential service for some of the most vulnerable, were hauled over the coals as fraudsters.
“Some were wrongfully sent to prison, many were financially ruined, marriages broke down, many collapsed into addiction and sickness as they lost everything.
“Some of them have since died, including four who took their own lives simply unable to cope with the appalling smear and strain of false convictions hanging over them until the very end.
“Where is the accountability for this shameful fiasco?”
26 Fujitsu director gives evidence in Post Office Horizon IT inquiry – watch live
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Live gestreamd op 19 jan 2024
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27 POST OFFICE SCANDAL: private prosecutions explained [LBC Legal Hour]
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28 Ep. 18 | The Great British Post Office Scandal – with Nick Wallis.
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17 apr 2023
Nick Wallis is a reporter who became part of the story, playing a key role exposing one of the most outrageous miscarriages of justice in recent British history.
Hundreds of innocent small businesspeople were remorselessly persecuted because of a computer fault in a saga that casts an unflattering light on the Post Office, the police, the court system and other key UK institutions.
You can buy Nick’s book here, at our brand new Scandal Mongers bookshop. It’s part of an alliance of independent booksellers that makes commission for us and other podcasts and bookstores rather than Amazon! In fact you can buy tens of thousands of books through this portal, at great prices.
29 “There Was A COVERUP!” – Journalist On Compensation Delays For Post Office Scandal Victims
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16 jan 2024
The boss of Fujitsu has apologised to subpostmasters and said there is a “moral obligation” for the technology giant to contribute to the compensation.
Fujitsu Europe director Paul Patterson faced a grilling by MPs on Tuesday alongside Post Office boss Nick Read, as public and political anger continues over the Horizon scandal.
The role played by the Japanese firm has come under the spotlight, with Mr Patterson opening the hearing by offering an apology for the “appalling miscarriage of justice” suffered by postmasters.
“We were involved from the very start. We did have bugs and errors in the system. And we did help the Post Office in their prosecutions of subpostmasters. For that we are truly sorry,” he told the Business and Trade Committee.
The global boss of Fujitsu, Takahito Tokita, told the BBC in Davos that his firm “apologised for the impact on the postmasters’ lives and their families”, but declined to confirm it would return any of the money it earned from the flawed Horizon system.
Journalist Nick Wallis discusses the scandal with Rosanna Lockwood:
“Why is it that we have a prosecution of innocent people, a coverup and then an incompetent array of compensation schemes!”
