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

Catlover123

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

They were 'messing with the postmasters' accounts because there were so many bugs in their system. It was a rotten system, part of a huge IT contract which was supposed to be computerising the payment of benefits by the Post Office. The project failed but the part which dealt with the computerisation of branch accounts (Horizon) went ahead.

I have no doubt that part of the 'messing' was a desperate attempt to rectify the errors caused by the bugs in the system, but they just couldn't keep pace with the workload.

Also, see this article from Computer Weekly (the magazine mentioned in the dramatisation) in Feb 2021. The URL says it all

www.computerweekly.com/news/252496560/Fujitsu-bosses-knew-about-Post-Office-Horizon-IT-flaws-says-insider

It is possible to remove Paula Vennells' CBE honour, but what irritates me is that she won't be stripped of her priesthood. As I understand it, once ordained a CofE deacon or priest, you can never lose that ordination. So for her, once a priest, always a priest, and considering her wrongdoings, that sits very poorly with me.

I agree that Paula Vennell's honour should be removed, but further she should be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice, along with so many others including Fujitsu managers.

The ordinary woman in the street would not get away with perverting the course of justice, so why should they, just because they are pa4t of a large organisation?

Just checked and it’s nearly 700,000 signatures so far

Do they represent us or not?

Um...I suspect not.

I was glancing through the results of other petitions which had triggered a Parliamentary debate and was disillusioned to see the results were often "Failed".

Do they represent us or not? 🤔

Callistemon, having signed the petition, if it reaches 1,000,000 and hopefully it will, will that then trigger a parliamentary debate? I'd like to think there would be some positive outcome and I really hope these victims are not going to be forgotten as they have been, once the furore surrounding the excellent series dies down .

622,100 signatures on the 38 Degrees petition and still rising rapidly.

The other petition
www.change.org/p/biztradegovuk-post-office-scandal-full-compensation-and-accountability
has 220,003 signatures

Because Adam Crozier was not mentioned in the ITV production (strange 🤔) he does not seem to be receiving any criticism for his part in this scandal.

Chestnut

mokryna

Who owns or has shares in Fujitsu?

If you type Fujitsu into Companies House website there are 62 results come up so good luck working that one out!

Many of us may if we have a pension fund, a stocks and shares ISA etc ☹

Paula Vennells ….corrupt, perjurer.
Should be stripped of her CBE! And prosecuted for lying in court for claiming that there were no other incidences of post masters having problems with the Horizon system.

mokryna

Who owns or has shares in Fujitsu?

If you type Fujitsu into Companies House website there are 62 results come up so good luck working that one out!

I believe some incriminating tapes of top Post Office staff which include Paul Vennells have been discovered, although surely there is enough evidence in the public domain for heads to roll.

Paula Vennells got her CBE for turning the Post Office losses into profits, profits which will include the money stolen from the sub postmasters/mistresses Having watched all the episodes now plus the documentary, there could never be enough money to compensate for the anguish some of these people have suffered, certainly not the paltry amount they were individually awarded.

ninamoore

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.

The Post Office Minister at the time was Ed Davey, now Lib Dem leader.

He claims he was misled.
He means he believed the Post Office bosses rather than listening to the whole story.

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.

Who owns or has shares in Fujitsu?

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

^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.

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!!