Post Office chief executive, Nick Read, revealed during the ongoing Horizon IT inquiry that he was instructed by the company’s leading lawyer not to delve into the past upon assuming his role in 2019. He expressed that he was unaware of the extent of the Horizon IT scandal prior to taking up the position. The scandal involved over 900 subpostmasters being wrongly accused of theft due to errors from the Horizon IT system.
Upon becoming CEO, Mr. Read discovered that litigation between the Post Office and 555 subpostmasters was unfolding, resulting in a £58 million compensation agreement. He disclosed that the Post Office’s general counsel advised him against investigating past events, stating that such conduct had ceased. Three individuals are currently being investigated by both the Post Office and external agencies over allegations made by affected subpostmasters.
The inquiry learned that subpostmasters are still dealing with financial repercussions from IT errors in 2024, with some using their personal funds to cover shortfalls. Nearly three-quarters of respondents in a recent survey indicated that they were in this situation, indicating a widespread issue. Mr. Read acknowledged a sense of denial within the Post Office leadership team following the litigation loss against subpostmasters, which later led to a realization of the crisis’s magnitude.
Regarding the quashed convictions of implicated postmasters earlier this year, Mr. Read mentioned that while not all may be innocent, the majority view within the organisation is supportive of the corrective actions taken. The inquiry continues to shed light on the injustices experienced by subpostmasters and the Post Office’s handling of the Horizon IT scandal, with Mr. Read scheduled to provide further testimony in the coming days.