The Post Office is looking into claims that staff on the New Branch IT (NBIT) project, including the transformation chief, misrepresented options for replacing the Horizon system. Instead of moving forward with the current NBIT software development, they might ditch it for an off-the-shelf solution.
An internal report from an Ad Hoc board has come to light through the Post Office scandal public inquiry. This report details investigations known as Willow2 and Willow3. Willow2 is focused on claims that tech teams misled senior executives by presenting information that skewed outcomes. The investigation also raises concerns about the IT teams possibly cutting corners during testing.
The latest report, dating back to August, highlights allegations against Chris Brocklesby, who was the chief transformation officer until earlier this month. Willow3 examines claims that he misrepresented an alternative offered by Escher, an Electronic Point of Sale software supplier, during a briefing to the board. It’s alleged that he downplayed Escher’s bid and dismissed it as a viable option without giving it proper consideration.
Due to the serious nature of these allegations, an external investigator will be brought in to ensure independence. According to the report, Brocklesby was initially overseeing the Willow2 investigation; however, new information turned him into a “material witness.”
Recently, there’s been talk of shifting away from the in-house NBIT project, with Escher emerging as the top option during the bidding process—though the Post Office had favored building the system themselves. A source close to the project indicated that while no final decision has been made, it looks like the in-house development will be scrapped.
Post Office chairman Nigel Railton mentioned in a public inquiry that deciding to build the new system in-house contributed to the project’s likely failure. Another source discussed the “build versus buy” debate, suggesting that many believe in-house development is better for subpostmasters and the organization in the long run. They acknowledge rising costs as a significant issue but stress that cultural changes are necessary to prevent similar problems if they go down the buying path. Though early quality issues plagued the project, those problems are now under control.
In May, Computer Weekly reported that a review by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority deemed the NBIT project “currently unachievable,” with costs skyrocketing from £180 million to £1.1 billion and delays extending up to five years. The scandal around the Post Office emerged back in 2009, when Computer Weekly first revealed the injustices suffered by subpostmasters due to the Horizon software. This scandal has become the most extensive miscarriage of justice in British history.