Post Office CEO Nick Read has been questioned for a second day regarding the Horizon IT scandal, which led to numerous postmasters being falsely accused of theft and false accounting. During the inquiry, Mr. Read expressed surprise at learning about 33 police investigations involving Post Office branches across 22 forces. He mentioned that upon joining the company in 2019, there was a perception that it was necessary to move on from the Horizon scandal.
Acknowledging that three individuals are currently under further investigation following allegations related to the scandal, Mr. Read highlighted the challenges in determining where the money paid by wronged subpostmasters to the Post Office had disappeared. He mentioned employing forensic accountants to trace the missing funds but lamented the lack of success in resolving the issue satisfactorily.
The inquiry also scrutinised the language in the contract for postmasters, stipulating interviews under caution by the Post Office’s investigations team in case of suspected criminal activities. Mr. Read admitted that the wording of the contract was heavy-handed and not reflective of the current operational practices, indicating that revisions were necessary to align with the Post Office’s approach to investigations and supporting postmasters during issues.
Moreover, Mr. Read raised concerns about the extent of police investigations involving Post Offices, particularly the significant workload faced by the Post Office’s internal investigations team in liaising with law enforcement agencies across various regions. The escalating number of requests for Horizon-based evidence underscored the complexity of the situation, prompting a reevaluation of the processes to ensure appropriate management and administration.
In a separate revelation during the inquiry, Mr. Read opined that the Post Office should not have been entangled in handling the compensation schemes for wronged postmasters due to inherent challenges in maintaining neutrality and instilling confidence among the victims. As Mr. Read looks set to step down from his role in March 2025, the Horizon IT scandal inquiry continues to shed light on the systemic issues that plagued the Post Office and its repercussions on innocent postmasters.