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

£1 million would not give them 20 years back, which is why it is called compensation, something to make up for something you have lost or had taken from you.
As the postmaster who had been jailed said, prison doesn't make any difference, but hit them where it hurts, in their pockets.
Alison Rose was not able to claim her bonus last year of up to £11 million, she only got £2 million, but to someone as venal as her , that hurts.
Paula Vennells was the CEO and she was in the position to investigate, to discover what was happening and to bring it to a halt. She did not.

There is a documentary about this at 10.45pm tonight, after the ITV News.

Joseann

If you gave all those people £1 million each it wouldn't give them back 20 years of their lives.

You’re right. The money is one issue, but what they deserve as much is recognition and public apology. I think this programme has done a huge amount of good - it wouldn’t surprise me if it becomes the Cathy Come Home equivalent of the 2020s.

I don't usually cry, but I did tonight watching this programme about injustice to the sub postmasters, and the subsequent effect it had on these peoples lives.
One of the best and most informative programmes I have seen in a long time.

Yes, me too, hallgreenmiss

And they should receive compensation over and above the repayment of the money they felt forced to pay to the Post Office for non-existent losses.

We should all email our MPs and make our feelings known.

262,000 on the petition up from
10,000 yesterday.

If you gave all those people £1 million each it wouldn't give them back 20 years of their lives.

I’m crying watching them get their convictions overturned

PestyOne

The programme was so good - looking forward to the other episodes this week 👍.
It's truly shameful & outrageous that lives were ruined and as we know compensation is still outstanding!

It’s not even compensation, it’s giving people back money that was always theirs.

Presumably the computer system balanced it against something though?
Fraudulently.

MaizieD

JennyCee

I would like to know what happened to all the “money” they say the Post Office Managers stole. How much was there and when will they give this “stolen” money back? It appears now that the PO are in effect recipients of money received unlawfully.

I had wondered that too.

I was discussing it with my OH today; he reckons that, although the amount of money the SPMs 'paid back' might seem very large to us, the turnover of the PO was so high that the excess money (over a number of years, after all) was probably not enough to be counted as anything but an accounting error.

The money became part of the Post Office profits.

JennyCee

I would like to know what happened to all the “money” they say the Post Office Managers stole. How much was there and when will they give this “stolen” money back? It appears now that the PO are in effect recipients of money received unlawfully.

I had wondered that too.

I was discussing it with my OH today; he reckons that, although the amount of money the SPMs 'paid back' might seem very large to us, the turnover of the PO was so high that the excess money (over a number of years, after all) was probably not enough to be counted as anything but an accounting error.

Joseann

^While I understand that Vennells behaved disgracefully I think it rather hard that she is the only one getting the real hate from the public. The prosecutions started before she was made CEO^.
Hi MaizieD, is this because she lied and appeared to be very difficult during the investigation? As I saw it, she just came out with platitudes that were untrue, and she surely knew it. There was no positive gesture on her part to want to put things right.

But, Joseann, the SPMs were being lied to long before Vennells became CEO. I think it is wrong that Vennells is the only person who is coming in for the hate. This is not to excuse her, I just think that others should be getting a bit of it, too...

eazybee

There is a documentary tonight at 10.45 pm on ITV about the Post Office, made by the people who made the drama series. They usually only make documentaries, but the story was too good to miss, and has had far more impact as a drama.

And Paula Vennells was the CEO, head of command. Of course she should take responsibility. She was happy enough to take the salary, the bonus and the CBE.

"The buck stops here"

I would like to know what happened to all the “money” they say the Post Office Managers stole. How much was there and when will they give this “stolen” money back? It appears now that the PO are in effect recipients of money received unlawfully.

There is a documentary tonight at 10.45 pm on ITV about the Post Office, made by the people who made the drama series. They usually only make documentaries, but the story was too good to miss, and has had far more impact as a drama.

And Paula Vennells was the CEO, head of command. Of course she should take responsibility. She was happy enough to take the salary, the bonus and the CBE.

Such a terrible story about the Post Office ... a few years ago the Post Office was offering a high rate of interest to savers .. the money went into the Bank of Ireland but the Post Office held the account. When I invested some money they gave me a small receipt and told me I would get a book with the savings shown... I never got a book and when I enquired a month later they had no record of it !!! After months and months I couldnt get any information as to where my money was and we needed it to move house ! ... Eventually I got the Ombadsman involved and he sorted it out for me

Petition signed.

While I understand that Vennells behaved disgracefully I think it rather hard that she is the only one getting the real hate from the public. The prosecutions started before she was made CEO.
Hi MaizieD, is this because she lied and appeared to be very difficult during the investigation? As I saw it, she just came out with platitudes that were untrue, and she surely knew it. There was no positive gesture on her part to want to put things right.

It’s brilliantly done. So shocking and sad. I want to know what happened to the money that ‘disappeared’ from all of these post office accounts. And to the money paid back by the postmasters and mistresses. And why is Horizon still used by the post office? And why Paula Vennells still has a CBE? And Sir Ed Davey was post office minister at the time. Refused to meet Alan Bates. Disgraceful.

OldFrill

Why was there no mention of Adam Crozier ?

Odd, isn't it.

He left as CEO of Riyal Mail Group to become CEO of ITV and this was an ITV production.
🤔

Why was there no mention of Adam Crozier ?

Couldn’t agree more with you totally disgusting what they have done to all those innocent families!!!!!

Absolutely agree with you

People need to be accountable. This is the worst miscarriage of justice by a British institution that I always admired. Terrible.