Post Office Chief Advised Against Delving Into Past by Top Lawyer During Inquiry
The ongoing Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry has revealed that the Chief Executive, Nick Read, was instructed not to investigate the past in detail by the organisation’s leading lawyer upon assuming his role in 2019. Mr. Read expressed that he was not fully informed about the extent and gravity of the Horizon IT scandal prior to taking up his position.
The Horizon scandal revolved around more than 900 subpostmasters facing false accusations of theft due to inaccurate data from the Horizon IT system. Although the events leading to the scandal occurred before Mr. Read’s tenure, upon his appointment, the Post Office was in the midst of litigation with 555 subpostmasters, resulting in a £58 million compensation settlement.
During his testimony at the inquiry, Mr. Read disclosed a statement indicating that private prosecutions were portrayed to him as a historical issue that had been resolved before 2015. He highlighted that the organisation’s general counsel, Ben Foat, advised him not to delve deeply into the past incidents at the Post Office.
Mr. Read also mentioned receiving briefings from senior members of the Post Office before assuming the CEO role. He admitted that the full extent of the scandal was not vividly conveyed to him during these initial briefings, as there seemed to be a lack of understanding regarding the necessary actions and potential consequences.
Moreover, Mr. Read acknowledged a sense of denial within the leadership team about the repercussions of the litigation with subpostmasters. It was only in 2020 that the gravity of the crisis became apparent to the senior leadership and board, leading to a realisation of the Post Office’s past mistreatment of postmasters.
Following the quashing of convictions of numerous postmasters earlier this year, Mr. Read expressed the organisation’s perspective that while not all overturned convictions may indicate innocence, the corrective actions taken were necessary. He emphasised that holding guilty postmasters accountable was no longer the primary concern.
The revelations made during the inquiry shed light on the challenges faced by the Post Office in addressing historical injustices and rebuilding trust with affected stakeholders. The inquiry continues to unravel details surrounding the Horizon IT scandal and its enduring impact on the organisation.