A Fujitsu boss has told the Horizon IT inquiry he raised “serious concerns” about the “behaviour” of the Post Office investigations team earlier this year.
More than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted and received criminal convictions between 1999 and 2015, as Fujitsu’s faulty Horizon IT system made it appear as though money was missing at their branches – with many still awaiting compensation.
On Tuesday, the inquiry examining the scandal was shown a letter dated 17 May, written by Fujitsu’s European boss Paul Patterson to Post Office chief executive Nick Read.
In it, Mr Patterson wrote: “I am writing to you directly in order to raise serious concerns that have come to my attention which indicate that the Post Office continues to pursue enforcement against postmasters and it expects (Fujitsu) to support such actions.
“To be clear, (Fujitsu) will not support the Post Office to act against postmasters.”
Mr Read responded by saying the company does not and will not undertake prosecutions against sub-postmasters as a prosecutorial body, adding there are “fundamental misunderstandings at [Fujitsu] about Post Office’s current-day culture and activities”.
The Post Office boss, who recently announced his resignation as chief executive, also told Mr Patterson that Horizon data was not being used for “civil recoveries from postmasters”.
Post Office chief executive Nick Read recently announced his resignation Pic: House of Commons/PA
Under the heading “criminal investigations”, Mr Patterson said: “We have become aware of a recent investigation by the City of London Police into a Post Office branch.
“The approach of (Fujitsu) is to co-operate with the police and any other third party exercising independent investigative, prosecutorial, regulatory or judicial powers. However, we are concerned by the behaviour of the Post Office investigation team on this matter.
“The team maintains an approach of Post Office as ‘victim’ and requires (Fujitsu) to provide a witness statement as to the reliability of Horizon data stating that without such statement the case will not progress.
“For the investigations team to act in this manner seems to disregard the serious criticisms raised in multiple judicial findings and indeed exhibits a lack of respect to the ongoing inquiry.”
Questioned about the contents of the letter, Post Office non-executive director Saf Ismail told the inquiry: “I think Fujitsu are right in what they are saying. I find it disappointing that this was not discussed at the board.”
Saf Ismail gave evidence to the Horizon inquiry on Tuesday. Pic: PA/Horizon Inquiry
In his response dated 30 May, Mr Read said: “In respect of enforcement, Post Office’s requests only relate to cases where our teams are supporting criminal investigations or prosecutions pursued by independent third parties, such as the police or the Crown Prosecution Service.”
He said the independent investigations could be initiated by a third party, postmasters suspecting criminal activity from staff, or the Post Office.
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Jailed sub-postmistress watches evidence
In his original letter, Mr Patterson went on to discuss the topic of “pursuit of shortfalls from postmasters”, saying: “It seems the Post Office may be continuing to pursue postmasters for shortfalls in their accounts using Horizon data.
“We would have expected that the Post Office has changed its behaviour in light of the criticisms and is appropriately circumspect with respect to any enforcement actions. It should not be relying on Horizon data as the basis for such shortfall enforcement.”
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Mr Read told Mr Patterson civil recoveries were halted by the Post Office in 2018 so Horizon data “is not currently being used for civil recoveries from postmasters”.
Meanwhile, Post Office campaigner Sir Alan Bates has blamed government “flimflam artists” for dragging out financial redress for victims.
And earlier this week, a survey suggested most sub-postmasters are still reporting issues with the Horizon IT system that led to hundreds being wrongly convicted.
The inquiry continues.