The Post Office is currently looking into allegations that a senior executive may have directed employees to destroy or hide documents relevant to the public inquiry into the Post Office scandal.
In her sixth witness statement, company secretary Rachel Scarrabelotti provided details about the whistleblowing issue under review. She noted that this matter was included in a recent update to the Post Office board. Under the section titled “Speak Up matter regarding destroying or concealing material,” Scarrabelotti wrote, “It involves allegations that a senior Post Office staff member instructed their team to destroy or conceal material potentially significant to the inquiry, and that the same individual exhibited inappropriate behavior.” She expressed her understanding that the situation is being appropriately managed due to its serious nature.
The employee in question has been suspended. Scarrabelotti further added, “I also understand that the POL [Post Office Limited] board has been kept informed about developments in this Speak Up matter, with the most recent update provided in a briefing document to the POL board in August 2024.”
“Speak Up” is an internal program that allows Post Office staff to confidentially report whistleblower information. This concerning revelation parallels evidence brought forth during appeals related to wrongful convictions in 2021. During the Court of Appeal hearings, it emerged that a senior Post Office executive had instructed staff to destroy documents that conflicted with claims regarding the effectiveness of its Horizon computer system, a system under scrutiny for causing unexplained financial discrepancies.
During these hearings, lawyers representing former subpostmasters—who were contesting wrongful prosecutions—pointed to advice from barrister Simon Clarke, who had previously advised the Post Office in 2013. In a memorandum to the Post Office pertaining to a conference intended to serve as the “primary repository for all Horizon-related issues,” Clarke indicated that there was an instruction to destroy previously circulated minutes and emails: “The word ‘shredded’ was conveyed to me.”
The inquiry’s chair, former judge Wyn Williams, has repeatedly admonished the Post Office for its failure to disclose critical information relevant to the inquiry.
Scarrabelotti’s statement also uncovered allegations that senior contractors in the Post Office’s Remediation Unit may have deliberately slowed down the processing of compensation claims to prolong their contracts. She noted that an investigation into these claims had been conducted, yielding no evidence to substantiate the allegations.
According to her statement, “An external law firm was brought in to conduct the investigation, and the Investigation Oversight Group, which consists of the executive and leadership team, is maintaining oversight. So far, no evidence has emerged that supports the concerns raised, and a draft report is expected around July 29, 2024.”
The Post Office scandal first came to light in 2009 through reports by Computer Weekly, documenting the challenges faced by seven subpostmasters due to the Horizon accounting software, which ultimately led to one of the largest miscarriages of justice in British history.
For further reading, see:
• What you need to know about the Horizon scandal
• ITV’s documentary – Mr Bates vs The Post Office: The real story
• The implications of the Post Office and Fujitsu’s actions leading to significant taxpayer expenses.