I've Talked About This Before But I Trhink We Need To Revisit........

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60374182
It just beggars belief that anyone could have been prosecuted, surely all they had to do was produce a list of transactions and do the arithmetic independently. I just cannot see how any of these cases could possibly be proven. All I would do is get them to agree on the transactions then get the arithmetic done independently. It seems the PO chiefs were telling the courts that 2+2=5 and they were getting believed. The SPMs where even putting their own money in! FGS! shameful episode.

[ToraToraTora]

just listening to one of the victims who paid over £60k. He said that software suppliers warned the PO board that the software was full of bugs.

[rockyracoon]

I still find this utterly unbelievable.
Will the poor accused, and worse, the poor sods that were advised to plead guilty, get any financial recourse?

[barry1010]

Yes, they will all get compensation by the end of this year and some have received interim payments

[barry1010]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-59629712

[barry1010]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10509469/Victims-Post-Office-scandal-receive-compensation-offers-end-year.html

[Ken4155]

A chap on the radio yesterday who had installed some of the software in post offices said that there was obviously something not right as the monthly accounts rarely, if ever, tallied. Top brass were informed of this problem several times but chose to ignore these warnings, instead preferring to believe that, all of a sudden, quite a lot of their SPMs were bent! Many lives were ruined because of their obstinance. Ridiculous and very, very shameful.

[Mamyalynne]

It's been an absolute debacle and has ruined lives.

[ToraToraTora]

ken: "Top brass were informed of this problem several times but chose to ignore these warnings, instead preferring to believe that, all of a sudden, quite a lot of their SPMs were bent! " - I'd like to see them prosecuted.

[bobbinwales]

Shamefull. I agree with one who was found guilty.... he says some of those who were negligent in the post office management should be prosecuted and out through some of the life changing pain some of these postmaster was put through.
Its just unbelievable that someone in authority didnt stop and think 'hold on something seems odd here... its happening too often, perhaps we should get some independant checks'

[barry1010]

On a much, much smaller scale than this I was once falsely accused and I had no way of proving my innocence. The sense of frustration and anger was overwhelming and the fear for my future was very real. The stress made me very ill and put the whole family under tremendous strain.
Thankfully all was well in the end but I cannot imagine how these victims and their families have coped. I am not surprised some resorted to suicide.
Money can never compensate but it may help rebuild lives and give a breathing space.

[Lie-in King]

An utterly disgraceful affair. It is to be hoped that the inquiry is able to find & somehow punish those that knew of the system's failings yet appear to have ignored all warnings.

[wolf63]

I think that being accused of, and sent to prison for, something for which you are totally innocent must be my worst nightmare.

Too many ruined lives.

[Ellipsis]

The whole episode is utterly unbelievable and diminishes my faith in humanity!

[tiggerblue10]

I read somewhere that one or two people took their own lives because of what happened. Just awful!

[Ken4155]

TTT, in an ideal world, all those involved in allowing this to happen would be prosecuted. Alas, no matter the findings of any inquiry, none will. One or two 'scapegoats' may lose their jobs, but they will be of the lower echelon. As is ever the case :-(

[douglas9401]

Those looking for any action to be taken against the cretins at the top of this situation should prepare themselves for major disappointment.

They'll still be spreading incompetence at others expense somewhere in the business world, it was ever so.

[douglas9401]

^ Goodness ^

[jackthehat]

Paula Vennells needs to hand back her CBE and apologise for the smug intransigence she displayed during the many TV interviews she gave at the time of this debacle.

[Togo]

Too true jth. The wicked woman knew all along that the system was useless and doubled down to protect a lie. Vennells? Venal more like.

[ToraToraTora]

all valid comments above but surely just doing the adding up would have exonerated them??