Anyone just watched Mr Bates v the Post Office? *GNHQ tweaked the title*

Not read the whole thread,so may have already been said,but there's a podcast on BBC Sounds called the Great Post Office Trial that I listened to last year and has since been updated that is what first alerted me to how shocking this miscarriage of justice was.One particular 'interview' (interrogation)of a sub postmistress is harrowing. This TV series was so well acted and has hopefully made true compensation and exonerated possible.For those still alive and living with this.

The newspapers today are reporting that Paula Vennels is being pressured to return her CBE. She and the other senior P.O. officials involved should be made to answer for, at the very least, prosecuting 'Jo' , when in fact they had no legal basis to do so, and they must have known that. However much money the victims are finally given, it cannot make up for the ruination of lives.

There is a petition demanding that Paula Vennels should be made to hand back her CBE. it really is a joke that somebody can be rewarded for ruining all those lives.

I have followed this story since it broke but these actors are doing a great job highlighting it again. It is truly shocking how they were all told it was just them.

I still have episode 4 to watch. Having watched episode 3 last night, it occurred to me the offer made to the woman who had tragically lost her very depressed husband to suicide, was made a compensatory offer from the Post Office which had all the hallmarks of mafia style pressure, "you have till the end of the day to make up your mind" reminded me so much of The Godfather, "we'll make you an offer you can't refuse" Astounding these people who sell their souls to a corporation and shed any vestiges of empathy.

Alan Bates for PM?!

I personally don't like the thought of public humiliation or punishment for the "guilty" parties.

I just wish this case wasn't taking so flipping long! It's Dickensian but worse.

Grammaretto…in some cases perhaps. But in others I have to disagree. Public humiliation is small fry and I believe that is already in place just not wide enough.

I personally don't like the thought of public humiliation or punishment for the "guilty" parties

Really? A charge of corporate manslaughter would not be amiss.

The shadowy people at Fujitsu need to be investigated by the police too.

Well done Alan Bates for sticking to his guns

Many people would have given in under that pressure.

He is the one who deserves a CBE.

Callistemon21

^I personally don't like the thought of public humiliation or punishment for the "guilty" parties^

Really? A charge of corporate manslaughter would not be amiss.

The shadowy people at Fujitsu need to be investigated by the police too.

I absolutely agree regarding corporate manslaughter Callistemon and yes the people at Fujitsu absolutely need to be investigated, why haven't they been? massive ramifications in the ability of staff accessing individual accounts. How can they continue to be trusted??

Yes I get that pov Callistemon but where do you stop and it leads to trial by public opinion/media

Paula can't be the only incompetent fool in the story. There are those shadowy Fujitsu people and probably advisors and politicians too

Fujitsu have been involved in supplying computer systems for the NHS.

Should we all be afraid?

Grammaretto

Yes I get that pov Callistemon but where do you stop and it leads to trial by public opinion/media

Paula can't be the only incompetent fool in the story. There are those shadowy Fujitsu people and probably advisors and politicians too

Yes, I've been saying that.

The enquiry needs to be robust in the proper meaning of the word.

www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk/public-hearings-timeline

It is shame that the hour long documentary, which didn’t seem to have any advance publicity, of the real people was shown so late last night.

Primrose53

There is a petition demanding that Paula Vennels should be made to hand back her CBE. it really is a joke that somebody can be rewarded for ruining all those lives.

I have followed this story since it broke but these actors are doing a great job highlighting it again. It is truly shocking how they were all told it was just them.

And how could that despicable woman hold her head up high and preach to her congregation!!

Callistemon21

^Well done Alan Bates for sticking to his guns^

Many people would have given in under that pressure.

He is the one who deserves a CBE.

I believe at the end of the documentary late last night it did say that he had been offered one but has refused while Paula Vennels still has hers.

Grammaretto

Yes I get that pov Callistemon but where do you stop and it leads to trial by public opinion/media

Paula can't be the only incompetent fool in the story. There are those shadowy Fujitsu people and probably advisors and politicians too

You stop when it has been publicly investigated, as should have happened in the first place, and when all those responsible have been brought to book.

I think that a lot of the outrage over so-called 'trial by media' is fuelled by a desire for those in power to get away with all sorts of things. I agree that ridiculous witch-hunts on local FB pages should be ignored, but when the only way for 'little people' to get justice is to use the media to raise awareness then I am all for it. There are powerful laws against slander and libel which can make it very difficult to speak out against public figures with expensive lawyers, so (a) the chances are that those who do manage to get their stories heard have a case, and (b) there is ample opportunity for powerful people to fight their corner.

The alternative is that we all just 'put up and shut up', which, as this case shows, can lead to devastating consequences.

Callistemon21

Fujitsu have been involved in supplying computer systems for the NHS.

Should we all be afraid?

Short answer, yes.

It made my blood run cold to think that a systems company could just hack in to individual accounts and do whatever they wanted. The case of the union chap whose visit so annoyed them was horrifying.

This could potentially have been any of us who worked with finance in other public services that are now being effectively taken over by powerful organisations.

Good post, Doodledog. And we can also add to the mix the fact that so many “little” people who could speak out against those with power are now effectively gagged by Non Disclosure Agreements.

I hear you Doodle dog.

I am all for speaking up for those whose voices can't be heard, for injustices every where. What makes me uncomfortable is that there will be scapegoats who are possibly not the worst offenders while the real criminals get away with murder.

I think ' incompetent fool' does not cover it Grammaretto the woman was deceitful and untruthful.

I remember when Radio 4 broke the story and followed up with in-depth research. Absolutely heartbreaking. The Government minister wouldn’t listen to the postmasters side of the story, as usual the Tory ministers thought they knew everything. Remember this in the next General Election.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67894818
Hope this link works. It seems the programme has encouraged more victims to come forward.

I don't understand why the people at Fujitsu were messing with the postmaster Horizon accounts? And why aren't they liable?

Streaky

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67894818
Hope this link works. It seems the programme has encouraged more victims to come forward.

I did wonder where the rest of them are, and why the haven't come forward? There must be quite a lot.

Who owns or has shares in Fujitsu?

Shocking. Followed it from the beginning when it first came out years ago. It's taken way too long to get to where we are today. And lots of other institutions are also failing people miserably including NHS Health Trusts, think of the Maternity Scandals etc lots of facts are covered up etc The police etc
Those poor post office people....heartbreaking to watch. Thank goodness for people like Bates.