Investigating the Post Office Scandal Investigating the Post Office Scandal
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Journalists Rebecca Thomson and Nick Wallis cover the ongoing Post Office Horizon IT scandal which led to the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK legal history. Hundreds of people were wrongly criminalised, thousands lost money and when the Post Office and government realised what they had been doing, they covered it up. To date, no one has been held accountable. Made with thanks to Whistledown for their production support.
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Ep35 - Paul Scully MP, former Post Office minister
In which Nick interviews the former Post Office minister about his experience of taking office in the weeks after the Bates v Post Office settlement, overseeing the establishment of the Post Office Horizon Inquiry and the various compensation schemes.
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Ep 34 - Where Did All The Money Go?
In which Nick is joined by Mark Baker, former Postmaster and CWU rep, and Ron Warmington, forensic accountant, fraud investigator and Chairman of Second Sight, which conducted the first independent investigation of the Post Office's Horizon system.
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Ep 33 - The Stamp of Innocence
Nick and Rebecca interview Noel Thomas and Aled Gwyn Jôb, who with Sian Thomas have co-written a book about Noel's experience of being prosecuted by the Post Office for theft and false accounting.
The book is called The Stamp of Innocence. It has just been published and currently only available as an e-book from Amazon, but there are plans to make it available as a paperback, most likely early in 2024.
Noel has already published the Welsh language version of his story ("Llythyr Noel: Dal y Post"), which you can buy in paperback from www.gwales.com and of course, from all good Welsh language bookshops.
In the podcast Noel and Aled talk about the experience of putting the book together, read from both the Welsh and English versions and give their thoughts on the wider Post Office Scandal. Sian sadly had a sore throat so couldn't participate, but she set up the technology to make it all work in Ynys Môn/Anglesey.
Our thanks to Whistledown Productions for continuing to provide production support and assistance with our podcast project. -
Ep 32 - Making Inquiries with David Enright
Rebecca and I were delighted to record an episode with Howe and Co partner David Enright, a lawyer who represents more than 100 Subpostmasters at the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry. This is a proper wide-ranging chat covering Sir Wyn Williams compensation report, the Post Office disclosure debacle, bonusgate, restorative justice, whether ALL Post Office prosecutions should be re-examined, how long the inquiry will last and what it's like to be working at the coal face of a process like this.
Sir Wyn Williams' interim inquiry report on compensation
Howe and Co and other Core Participants' submissions on compensation
The Post Office's disclosure debacle
Howe and Co's website
Nick's interview with Post Office CEO Nick Read on BBC Sounds
Nick's recent Sunday Times piece
Lord Arbuthnot's call for all PO prosecutions to be revisited in Computer Weekly
The Post Office Scandal website -
Ep 31 - Yet Another Compensation Hearing
As both Nick and Rebecca were unable to attend the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry Compensation Hearing on 27 April, they thought it best to speak to some people who were. Sadly Rebecca was also unable to co-host the podcast so Nick brought in Professor Richard Moorhead from Exeter University (and member of the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board), Helen Lacey from Bath Publishing (and trustee of the Horizon Scandal Fund) and Robert Nicholson, Senior Editor at Whistledown Productions (and award-winning producer of the BBC's Great Post Office Trial series) to help talk around the issues raised.
The written submissions, youtube video and transcripts to Thursday's compensation hearing can all be found here on the Inquiry's website.
As promised in the podcast, this is the Horizon Scandal Fund website.
Prof Moorhead is currently recruiting a post-doc researcher who can help his team investigate the Horizon Scandal more fully. Apply here.
And here is a link to The Great Post Office Trial on BBC Sounds. -
Ep 30 - Post Office Minister on launch of GLO scheme
In which the Post Office Minister Kevin Hollinrake explains the new compensation scheme for Postmasters who were part of the High Court group litigation, declares the Historical Shortfall Scheme fit for purpose, says he wants people held to account over the Horizon scandal and appears ready to support a Duty of Candour law if it prevents something similar happening again. After the interview with Mr Hollinrake, Nick speaks once more to Lee Castleton, a likely applicant to the scheme, nineteen years to the day after Post Office auditors walked into Lee's branch and closed it down, setting him on the path to bankruptcy and ruining his life.
Government's compensation scheme for Group Litigation Subpostmasters: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/compensation-scheme-for-group-litigation-order-case-postmasters
Post Office Horizon IT inquiry legal advice on bankruptcies:
https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk/legal-opinion-catherine-addy-kc-matters-relating-bankruptcy-and-compensation
A longer interview with Lee Castleton: https://audioboom.com/posts/8156279-ep-10-lee-castleton-justice-for-subpostmasters-alliance-founding-member
Rebecca's Substack page: https://rebeccathomson.substack.com
Nick's Post Office Scandal website: https://www.postofficescandal.uk/donate/
Nick's book: https://bathpublishing.com/products/the-great-post-office-scandal-updated-pbk
Rebecca's first investigation for Computer Weekly in 2009: https://www.computerweekly.com/news
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Customer Reviews
Brilliant work on the is scandal
Rebecca & Nick give an incredible insight into this scandal
Absolute education
Having watched Nicks panorama programmes rooted this podcast out. Absolutely addicted and such an eye opener. Thank you Nick and Rebecca for doing a brilliant job.
The dead hand of the state
Every time I think I know the story, this podcast provides compelling new insights on the awfulness of the scandal and the unrelenting personal impact on those affected. Let alone their families.