The ongoing Post Office inquiry reveals persistent scepticism towards postmasters within the organisation, even after the Horizon scandal.
- Former chair Henry Staunton discloses that the Post Office’s legal team continues to resort to extensive investigations based on questionable data.
- Staunton describes a lack of governmental willingness to address the compensation needs of the scandal victims adequately.
- Only a small percentage of reviewed cases are expected to lead to concessions by the Post Office, highlighting a systemic issue.
- Testimonies indicate the Post Office’s challenging internal culture, with revelations of adversarial legal approaches.
The Post Office inquiry has brought to light ongoing distrust towards postmasters among some individuals at the organisation, predominantly within its legal team. Former chair Henry Staunton, who has been involved in overseeing the inquiry, stated that the legal department continues to engage in detailed investigations based on data of dubious reliability. This ongoing scepticism is concerning, given the gravity of the Horizon scandal that led to the wrongful convictions of over 700 postmasters, yet these reservations persist in influencing approaches internally as recently as the previous year.
Staunton’s testimony further revealed a troubling lack of governmental urgency in addressing the need for compensation for those affected by the Horizon affair. Upon his appointment in December 2022, he assumed that securing significant funds for the victims would be an indisputable necessity. However, he encountered a governmental hesitance, with little enthusiasm for decisive intervention. Despite the clear injustice faced by those affected, many within the organisation, as reflected in internal attitudes, seemed to uphold a belief in the guilt of the convicted postmasters who had not appealed their charges.
An alarming analysis of the remediation process suggests that only 12% of 552 cases reviewed since January 2023 were deemed likely to result in the Post Office conceding or acknowledging error. This statistic underscores a troubling trend within the organisation’s approach to handling the aftermath of the scandal, indicating an institutional unwillingness to rectify past errors fully. Even in situations where convictions seemed sound, the remediation team displayed a reluctance to recognise the broader scope of the injustices committed, as per Staunton’s observations.
The environment within the Post Office during this period is further illuminated by a highlighted case in which a former postmaster experienced a cold and impersonal remediation process after her conviction was overturned. Describing the lawyers’ manner as brutal, she conveyed a deep sense of humiliation throughout the process. Staunton expressed his dissatisfaction with how the legal team, both in-house and external, seemed to approach matters in an excessively confrontational manner, lacking empathy towards those who had suffered due to the organisation’s past errors.
Compounding these concerns, Staunton reflected on the organisational culture that still promoted excessive and heavy-handed investigative practices. In January 2023, Ben Foat, head of legal, authorised an investigation into a postmaster involving what was initially perceived as a significant shortfall in the Horizon system. Staunton deemed the approach ‘utterly unconscionable,’ citing it as indicative of an enduring problematic culture prone to rash and disproportionate responses to discrepancies.
The inquiry highlights the persistent challenges within the Post Office, reflecting deep-seated issues that continue to undermine trust and accountability.
