'It Will End In Prison Sentences' For People Involved In Post Office Scandal, Says Lord Arbuthnot

A law aimed at quashing the wrongful convictions of subpostmasters caught up in the Horizon IT scandal is being introduced by the Government on Wednesday.
The proposed Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill “marks an important step forward in finally clearing” the names of hundreds of wronged branch managers who have had their lives “callously torn apart”, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.
The legislation will exonerate those convicted in England and Wales on the basis of the faulty Horizon accounting software in what has been branded the biggest miscarriage of justice in British legal history.
TalkTV’s Jeremy Kyle and Nicola Thorp discuss the story with Tory peer and Post Office scandal campaigner Lord James Arbuthnot.
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#postoffice #postofficescandal #horizon

[@williamoates1754]

This will not go away until those guilty of perpetrating this injustice hear the prison door slam behind them.

[@michaelmcginley7930]

Lord abuthnought is talking mince .i garantee no one will get jail

[@jaybe2908]

@@michaelmcginley7930 No one at the top will, they might pick on some pleb at the bottom to take the fall for it

[@mharris7380]

A lot of them too, and for a long time. I wouldn't be surprised if just one or two are found guilty and they get sent down for a year or two when it should be life, the equivalent to what they took from others.

[@ChoppingtonOtter]

That never happens to the fatcats. The establishment will never allow that because it would set a precedent.

[@blue_jay31]

One can only hope ! 😢

[@bitofbritlife183]

What a shame it took a TV Docu/drama to shame the government into doing something.

[@colinmorgan8624]

There was already an inquiry on going,what the drama did was bring the issue in front of the public,who had ignored it up till then. Radio 4 had broadcast a series regarding the miscarriage of justice some 2 years ago,but it took a drama over the holidays to fire the public up and cast light over the inquiry

[@Bulletguy07]

@@colinmorgan8624 Panorama also broadcast an excellent documentary back in April 2022 speaking to sub-postmasters and also journalist and campaigner Nick Wallis. Its still showing on iplayer. Yes its a shame it took a TV drama to wake folk up.

[@neilfletcher4951]

When has anyone in power ever been sent to prison for breaking the law?.....one law for them another for us

[@vatsmith8759]

Probably because the only people who should be sent to prison are those who break the law?

[@blue_jay31]

Thank you !

[@marksavage1108]

archer, 3 MPs over expenses scandal, 5 labour councilors for postal voting fraud, the lib/dem for the bomb threats.

[@slottyken]

Do you NOT read the news 😮

[@fatbelly27]

Jeffrey Archer, Jonathan Aitken, Chris Huhne, Keith Best

[@user-cl7ub8ft6x]

Paula Vennells and other bosses need a prison sentence asap! What about the sub postmasters who killed themselves due to convictions of theft etc! Will their families get compensation now!

[@michaelmcginley7930]

As i said above there is no way vennels will get jail.who are they kidding

[@HereIam-rg3vy]

Reverend Paula Vennells,the vicar who tells pork pies!

[@blue_jay31]

One can only hope ,but I don’t see it happening! 😢😢😢😢😢

[@steveharrod6911]

much respect to lord arbuthnot, great guy

[@radicalcartoons2766]

What about the others, who were bullied into compensating the PO, went bankrupt, lost homes, jobs, reputations, and never went near a court? Surely they deserve this pardon too?

[@meganm1074]

A pardon is only for criminal offences. For the civil matters, there should definitely be compensation and an official apology.

[@Hertog_von_Berkshire]

£600,000 is the price of a 3- or 4-bed semi. Not all that much for someone who had their life ruined.

[@lindaj237]

Lord Arbuthnot..a man to be trusted..well done for taking this on and staying with it!

[@Pit-Stoptraining]

£600k doesn’t even scratch the surface. It should be a minimum of £1m. They can’t buy their time in life back.

[@blue_jay31]

I agree ! 😢

[@gileshumphry]

It's not just that. Most lost more than 600,000 as a result due not just to repaying fake loss but to loss of income as a result of imprisonment and being rendered unemployable. So it doesn't even cover monetary damages.

[@paulcastle1718]

Agreed but I would rather it was not us the taxpayer being given the bill , what did we do wrong ?

[@Pit-Stoptraining]

@@paulcastle1718 we voted the governments in to deal with post office ltd

[@donpearce]

£10,000,000

[@eddieedmondson7698]

I can't get my head around the fact that, when hundreds of people were suddenly accused of ripping the Post Office off, it didn't cross somebody's mind that there was something odd going on.

[@catherine7484]

The first thought I had was how anyone would suppose a tiny office in a small village could have a shortfall of 4000 Pounds over a week! They had to know the revenue history -how did it not trigger an immediate audit?

[@blue_jay31]

From the lawyers to the bloody judges!

[@marksavage1108]

"Its only happening to you" only the post office and courts would know the numbers had dramatically changed. Its only Alan Bates bringing them together that exposed the numbers.

[@swardie1]

It's as though everyone from top to bottom were paid to look the other way. It's the elephant in the room and the big hole in all their testimonies. They can all answer questions about their roles except when asked about Horizon. Who takes on a CEO position and doesn't know exactly what they're taking on and doesn't ask questions...

[@robertross3026]

My point exactly.

[@coolgranddad5430]

All these corrupt lawyers who had NO EVIDENCE yet pressured these average, working stiffs at the Post Office to accept a plea deal or else! Jail all of them, throw away the key, and with apologies to their spouses and kids, their assets must be seized, sold off and the proceeds distributed among all the wrongly convicted. Also, I'd like to know why no judge ever thought this whole episode looked suspicious? Couldn't they "clue in" that as the old saying goes "something looks and smells fishy here." Why didn't a judge at some point ask to view the evidence regardless of the plea deal? If they had and noticed there was NO EVIDENCE, would they then do the right thing?

[@blue_jay31]

Thank you !

[@pashby3]

It's a Club of sorts & a very old British one. this wasn't missed at any juncture ..it was ignored, to many eyes were opened due to a tv drama. Alas much of what you say will not pass for one, self preservation is embeded corporately.

[@user-se7es6uc8v]

I very much doubt it, corporate and white collar criminals very rarely go to prison. Credit to Private Eye magazine who have kept this story alive for years and did most of the legwork.

[@outlaw6421]

Prison sentence for the corrupt post office and fujitsu is justice,not a poxy 600k,its an insult

[@outlaw6421]

600.000 is an insult!!!!!!!

[@cha9165]

Justice is not monetary compensation its those involved going to jail

[@alaneversfield9823]

And so they should go to jail all those people that tried to cover it up plus pay back all the money they were being paid in wages and bonuses.

[@outlaw6421]

Those poor victims that took there own lives due to post office lies and fujitsu 600,000 is a bloody insult,they lost everything!!!!!!

[@peterbennett5910]

The police need to proceed and charge Vennells with crimes against Postmasters ASAP. There is more than enough evidence to proceed. It’s not in the public interest to delay this any further

[@natashajones3206]

You expect the corrupt police to charge the corrupt lawyers and establishment

[@stephenparkin3220]

'It Will End In Prison Sentences'. Its about time the police actually got off their backsides and did something.

[@dingopisscreek]

And so it should. Sub postmasters were robbed of their (in some cases) life savings. And the people at the top of the P.O. KNEW that the Horizon system and YET allowed these people to be prosecuted and jailed over this scandalous abuse. They KNEW it was unjust and they committed perjury - jail sentences should be mandatory for these people.

[@scousepie2]

Until the Corrupt are locked up for a long time it will never be over !!!

[@robertnewton6454]

It is not only the appalling behaviour of the post office and fujitsu The legal profession itself should be on trial they colluded with the post office in order to obtain what they knew were unsafe convictions When will the law society speak out Time for some truth to power

[@xinma6034]

Send them jail

[@rvarsigfusson6163]

600 000 for terror in many years..... NO..... How many years salary for this people is 600 000 pound?

[@grahambullock2093]

Get the money paid out, then concentrate on the wrong doers. No more talking, or waiting!!

[@orchidhouse297]

There should be jail for all those who made false accusations. A lot of Post Office accounts showing errors at the same time should have made someone wonder what was happening.

[@rcfurse]

I think you will find the total compensation number will be near £3BILLION. I do hope that some of the spineless people who have appeared at the inquiry will end up brought to trial including the worst of the lawyers.

[@outlaw6421]

600,000 for being sent to prison and loosing everything including husbands that have killed themselves.

[@ericmesser1]

Why isn’t Fujitsu paying for all this?

[@radicalcartoons2766]

They already said they are paying some of it.

[@ianrose56]

​@radicalcartoons2766 Some of it.? 🤔 I suggest they pay all of it. After all, it was them who sold a doggy item to a country, and they knew it didn't work as said it would.!!!!

[@ianellis5634]

@@ianrose56 Yes but the Post Office kept it quiet, and they were the ones who prosecuted the SPMs.

[@ianrose56]

@ianellis5634 And a separate matter that should be dealt with accordingly.!!! I see some big names get dragged into a Crown Court and wouldn't be at all surprised to see some big sentences, for some big names.!! This is too big not to warrant so.!!

[@marksavage1108]

@@ianrose56 the only problem with the system was the remote back door, the other little bugs were nothing. It was fujitsu changing the postmasters records, so a big fat YES, fujitsu caused all this so should pay all

[@GretsGarbo]

Great news. When will the big bonuses be given back

[@Dungshoveleux]

Paula Vennels and her management need tospend the next 10 years sewing mailbags.

[@a120068020]

What about all those who avoided convictions by making up the apparent losses? When do they get justice?

[@kevinbillington9773]

The Cleaner at Fujitsu will be the one imprisoned.

[@user-js3rg9sj1k]

Paula should be locked up.😮

[@johnmitchinson9577]

And so how much money has the government set aside to fund this compensation? I reckon it must between £60 million and £100 million. Surely Fujitsu should be paying out this money not the taxpayer!

[@user-se5vy8gj9e]

Around £1bn. PO far more culpable, so yes public money, just hope all the incompetent arseholes within the Civil Service, Government, Judicial system and the PO are named, shamed, fined and punished. Some hope. Still, at least it's highlighted just how useless these clowns are.

[@geoffwright9570]

Should those involved in the PO scandal receive prison sentences then it must reflect the seriousness of the crimes so as to deter any similar repeats of horizon systems

[@andrewgilbertson5356]

It appears as if “THEY” are trying to use £ to buy off the SPM. £600;000 is not much given the wrongs done.

[@ianellis5634]

And it's taxpayers money, they should claw back every penny the PO managers have in savings, houses etc.

[@ianlewis6967]

They will not go to prison those involved look after each other the lawyers will delay for years

[@stephenholmes1036]

Perverting the course of justice means gaol.

[@jimthorne304]

I wonder how long this will take. They can pass legislation in one day when they want to.

[@johnswarbrick2365]

Fujitsu will get the blame because an "unknown employee altered the recordings" and the management will all riggle out from under the bus. They are wriggling now with their selective memories and amnesia. Compensation will be paid but justice will not be done. Questions in the house, this will never happen again top management given a "good talking to and a slap on the legs" - heard it all before.

[@sheilamallett2741]

Don't forget "lessons will be learned..." Usual claptrap.

[@scudger99]

@@sheilamallett2741 The lesson learned here ? "Don't get caught".

[@mharris7380]

I can't believe it is only £600,000. It's an odd figure anyway but it should have been at least a million. Surely £600,000 is a 'bargaining' figure that someone somewhere knows is not the true amount they deserve, which would be even more disgusting treatment if they can get a lot more because they shouldn't have to fight for more.

[@mm3nrx]

we ALL know noone will go to prison

[@outlaw6421]

Imprison the people involved in the conspiracy, ie post office,lawyers,fujitsu.

[@knicol46]

All those responsible have the exact same selective amnesia when being questioned. The pattern is the same as the inquiry goes on.

[@timxavier8922]

I hope to god we the general do not foot the bill for this the money better come from the people who took it take the house the car everything they own until the bill is meet any shortfall must be made into a finance agreement with the interest this is normal life for us who the hell is in charge of this crap lock them up as well this should be a done deal by now once again showing two law systems absolutely pathetic

[@brucelangridge6302]

They will say lessons will be learned

[@davecourt5864]

This case highlights the fundamental issues with the UK, the system is far too hierarchical people who were high born or have been honoured or have been successful in business or have gone to university and been trained to think in a certain way are revered and their decisions are in most part not questioned. In fact, they are defended by their piers. EVERYONE is fallible and EVERYONE should be managed and checked upon. Paying executives crazy amounts to do simple jobs is not justifiable. All of that ends in this very terrible situation. Hold them all accountable with no mercy, they did not offer mercy to their victims. The UK is not unique in those failings but it is certainly why I no longer live there.

[@alanrace4156]

Another example of a useless government and legal system or an example of totally dishonesty within the government and legal system. Whichever those responsible should go to prison.

[@fredfish4316]

Legislation is necessary because of the staggering incompetence of the judiciary.

[@mothermary312]

Surely Fujitsu, must take some responsibility for this issue. They obviously knew of the problems and covered it up. The compensation should come from their pocket, not the public purse.

[@jacquelinemosforth8280]

Fujitsu should be under scrutiny and should stand to lose all their contracts. They have their fingers in lots of pies, mainly government institutions.

[@austerepotato3159]

Well done James!!!!!!!

[@01r1sh]

Not just James, a few other MP's supported the SPM's cause, sadly not enough over the many, many years this has being going on.

[@austerepotato3159]

@@01r1sh Yes, but still well done James!

[@BLUESKY-zt1nv]

They will get away with it 100%

[@paulkingeu]

The whole judicial system needs to be overhauled because there are wrongful convictions happening ALL the time. Every country that copied the UK system has the same problems. The judges take the side of the Government or big business or the party with the most money to pay lawyers. There is bias built into the Court system.

[@user-js3rg9sj1k]

I'll believe it,..when I see it.

[@johntaylor3940]

TORIES WILL HIDE THEM

[@twig3288]

The £600k should be considered as an unconditional provisional payment pending further claims

[@user-xb4le4og8e]

They should but won’t never happen you watch and see it’s one big club

[@NumberOneGeek]

I do hope justice creeps upon those responsible for this and they serve at His Majesty's great pleasure.

[@peterteagleteagle9958]

I bet not ,large bouts of amnesia will be sweeping across the country

[@composedlight6850]

As normal, big businesses has got away with wrong doing and nothing will happen to those responsible. To little to late and nothing has changed , pick another topic ie COVID restrictions and mandates, excess deaths and the system closes ranks with a few having got very rich .

[@dennispahl7098]

Parliament is the Supreme Law maker and it is Parliaments job to make laws to resolve problem. Then and only then, the Courts interpret and administer the new law. It is never for the Courts to make laws. QED. The Parliament is taking the correct action with this new law to quash ALL convictions WITHOUT the need to investigate each and every case. A basic and related legal tenet says that it is better that 9 guilty people go free than 1 innocent person is convicted. So those who may be 'guilty' you are now free of that stigma and hopefully you will change your ways and thank God that this end result has fortuitiously occurred.

[@LesJimStuart-hx5od]

Let us hope!

[@amandacoglan7336]

Not one of these post office staff will get true justice because you can not turn back the clock and reset their life clocks. They can never re live those years without this nightmare on their backs. Imagine what they have missed out on and the things they'll never do.

[@jacquelinemosforth8280]

£600k seems like a paltry sum for what these postmasters went through. The biggest joke of all is Paula Vennells telling the enquiring she loved the post office and gave……. She didn’t finish her sentence, because she knew she didn’t give anything to anyone. She got paid royally for doing an extremely poor job. Not only that, a criminally negligent job. And the tax payers get to foot the bill for her mistakes. 😤

[@tonychorley4936]

Still not get their recompense, when on earth is someone going to ensure they get the money, not just convictions overturned.

[@milkybar6276]

It should end with prison for those who have done wrong. But one thing I don't understand, by answering questions at the inquiry, won't they incriminate themselves for any police inquiry?

[@brianlopez8855]

By the time charges are brought, many will be found unfit to stand trial and they can slip into mental retirement.

[@probro9898]

In this country (as in any country which is not an outright police state) a person is innocent unless proven beyond reasonable doubt to be guilty. It is not enough to say that a person MIGHT be guilty. With an organization as corrupt as the Post Office giving evidence, no one can be sure beyond reasonable doubt that ANY given postmaster is guilty. All these convictions are unsafe and all should be overturned.

[@robertpearson7685]

I'll be surprised if there's any jail is given out, there's too many of the top establishment are involved. The lower ones may get some jail.

[@michaelrandall2070]

So £600,000 is only for FULL AND FINAL. So no money to pay legals for larger claim, death etc.

[@sehardorairaj3674]

But, what about the bonuses, signed of by Kuasi Kuarteng. Are their assets going to size from them??????

[@seancassidy8092]

Kausi who?... Oh the guy who helped tank the economy and cost us all billions in recovery cash...

[@melvyncox8488]

No one will go to prison you can’t lock the elite up it’s not cricket old boy .😢

[@day348]

Where’s the criticism of the judiciary the prosecution the defence and the judges all playing their part in NOT seeking the truth but happy to take the money whilst pontificating over someone’s honesty 🤬as has been quoted The Biggest Miscarriage Of JUSTICE in this country ever and HOW hands out justice in this country THE LAWYERS

[@pennydunwell7005]

I really do hope those responsible for this do get prison,you cannot play with people's lives with and not expect retribution csa your next.

[@lorrainebrown2178]

So it should and that first person to go to prison is that women then Karma maybe serve for all her victims God Bless them

[@bsimpson6204]

Why so long for these recordings to come out and who made them?

[@MargaretLangley]

The people involved in this scandal should also have the money they profited from this scandal, made give back all the money they were paid as executives in the PO.on top of a long prison sentence.

[@davidrenton]

the Goverment needs to send a bill to Fujistu , pay up or every contract is cancelled and you are forbidden from any future contracts

[@timothywilliams4089]

'Post office bosses didn't realise that they worked for the post Office',......said all post office bosses..

[@tismeagen684]

Without doubt those in the hierarchy of the post office that caused this scandal deserve prison time, but my scepticism tells me that it won't happen, | hope I'm wrong.

[@user-js3rg9sj1k]

How the hell did a victor become the C.E.O... Off the post office.

[@chloehood6355]

Well that is good news regarding prison terms for post office managers.

[@kenpaine4799]

Jail PO and Fujitsu guilty Senior Management, strip their bank sccounts under Proceeds of Crime Act and give it out as long awaited compensation

[@user-sl4qe5fb8p]

Give thanks to God for this man who stood by these wronged people

[@fredfish4316]

God?

[@BlessedAreTheBignoses]

What is also very scary is this clear, absolute & blatantly obvious miscarriage only gets overturned because of a TV program & pretty much the whole countries pressure, what chance does the individual stand. I know perhaps due to the Post Office bizarre powers to prosecute but still went through the court process & the big companies are believed over the little man so how many hundreds are ignored & perhaps wrongfully prosecuted

[@anthonyroxby9093]

It must end in prison sentences for these creeps if the government want any British people to have any respect or belief in our justice system ever again, otherwise the gloves are off.

[@davidsmith8728]

One minor point - or perhaps not so minor - this compensation will be paid by the taxpayers.

[@doubleducks814]

£600,000 over 20 years is £30,000 a year. It's just their back pay!

[@fireskycam9889]

I’d rather see 10 guilty people go free rather than seeing 1 innocent person go to prison

[@georgeelliott5613]

I think if it comes to a trial it will be said " that there is too much info in the public domain and the accused could not be guaranteed a fair trial imo

[@peterteagleteagle9958]

Just like glenfield ,if anyone was going to get nicked it would have happened by now

[@leighshelton1246]

it certainly should but corporate seem to walk away smiling.

[@user-kh9le7sq5s]

What about the covid murders? all invested mps need bringing to trial and convicted and not 10 years or so after the facts.

[@rogerbarton1790]

Will the beneficiaries of the estates of deceased postmasters get the £600,000, whether or not the estates have been wound up?

[@mindfulawareness1]

Can't see an outcome of detention - that would be at least 10 executives. They might try and pin it all on one individual, whose name comes up a lot, to save the rest.

[@keithg1xfl]

ANY Compensation should Come From PO Profits and NOT the Taxpayer

[@michaelrandall2070]

These settlements should not be FULL & FINAL.

[@user-js3rg9sj1k]

What about jailing the m.p.s. from.all parties that knew this was all a lie.

[@slottyken]

£600,000 doesnt sound like a lot of money when compared to what these people went through. If they'd offered them £6 million then that might be fair compensation.