Post Office boss Paula Vennells had 'no inkling' convictions were unsafe despite Alan Bates email

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells has claimed she had no inkling subpostmaster convictions were unsafe in 2013 despite a “concerning” email from lead campaigner Alan Bates.
Bates told Vennells that he was “surprised” she had not offered to meet him “bearing in mind what has been discovered so far” - referring to the work of independent forensic accountants Second Sight.
The 65-year-old ordained priest said the Post Office did want “reassurance” the Horizon system could be relied upon but denied seeking to persuade Second Sight to come to a conclusion favourable to the company.
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[@lemsy-bq5rl]

She lied, and while people languished in prison she swanned around with her CBE without a care in the world. LOCK HER UP.

[@brianmorane6770]

Another nail in Sunaks coffin where theres a "inquiry" when people are found out & it takes place @ our expence with people getting between £200-£800 a day........ no 1 goes to prison & we learn of an increase in bad memories.

[@Charlieb6308]

​@@brianmorane6770 whilst we know the Tories are responsible for a lot of problems you can't blame this on him. Really

[@bucksboy20]

I understand she was also a practicing vicar in the Church of England.

[@georgewilder7423]

​@@bucksboy20 Total hypocrite!!

[@iainadam1005]

​@bucksboy20 That I know about, but don't it take some believing that this total plank of woman was preaching, and at the same time was pressing ahead with these lies and knew all about it, just beggers believe. 😮

[@nannieg7622]

She was in the highest position as CEO and she “can’t recall” & “doesn’t know”….what a disgrace she is, lock her up and take back that huge bonus

[@judewestburner]

All you need is 'beyond reasonable doubt'. I suspect that bar has been reached

[@eddygortex]

Gets a big pay cheque and pension for all this incompetence and lies

[@janbrayshaw2105]

The post office seemingly was run by incompetent idiots, who all had serious memory problems, and for the massive salaries and bonuses they got they achieved bugger all, cost the submasters so much unimagineable trauma, and cost the country a fortune. I sincerely hope they will be accountable in a criminal court

[@HyacinthFl0wer]

So so agree.

[@gwynvye-parminter6860]

Dont hold your breath. Lessons will be learnt etc.

[@joanneramsden1514]

How much public money has been wasted on wrongful convictions, court fees, lawyers ect and still wasting public money. This has been going on for more than 20+ years

[@elunedevans1017]

Not forgetting the bonus fees paid out to incompetent executives.

[@cherrytraveller5915]

Not to mention all the money they took from all those innocent people

[@smorrisby]

​@cherrytraveller5915 .... and the investigators were paid bonuses on results. Corruption at its best.

[@revd.phillipwallace-pugh9955]

Over £100 million

[@AnthonyTobyEllenor-pi4jq]

Tony Blair authorized the fee of a Million quid to Fujitsu, for a defective computer system !

[@brianpotter3870]

She’s brilliant at saying many words that mean nothing, a squirming liar.

[@marybusch6182]

Word Salad is what they learned in their so called management classes and the idea that this fraud was perpetrated OVER 20 YEARS speaks to their intent towards the people...

[@josephkerrigan733]

It was her go to move. She'd say "I never did that/I never said that/ I never thought that", he would bring up an email where someone else said she said it, or an email where she said it or a document where she knew it & she'd just say "My intention was to ensure that the process that was in place was taking account of all information regarding the various considerations without unduly making decisions which may have inadvertently caused alternative reactions in response the initial results which in turn blah blah blah" until she finished and he asked the question 3 or 4 more times till she still took the line "In hindsight it does seem that what you are saying was true but at the time I'm not sure whether or not that was clear to me". Never been so angry in my life.

[@Coneman3]

That’s the route to management

[@marybusch6182]

@@Coneman3 that is what reagan and bush sr did. Why do you think bush jr could lie his way into the white house and iraq?

[@Mike35858]

When someone says " I THINK " tells me she knows what was going on but is not willing to admit anything.

[@jon780249]

She was in charge, but the way she tells it it is as if she was a minor employee, out of her depth and wholly naive. Yet the assertive and dismissive tone of many of her emails and her continual concern with protecting the brand rather than seeking a verifiable assessment of the Horizon system suggests this isn’t credible. A police investigation must follow. It is clear that witnesses are not telling the truth, but only trying to exonerate themselves.

[@chris-vn6sw]

Hopefully the post office “management” and Vennells will have time to reflect behind bars

[@franc9111]

For the time being, she is at a inquiry hearing, this is not a trial, in fact I think I'm right in thinking that she is under no obligation to attend. I believe there is at least one other individual who was requested to come and testify and who refused to do so. In view of the enormity of what she was supposed to be responsible for, one can only hope that a trial will follow and she is far from being alone.

[@ianwatkins2879]

Just think how much money she was on, for being totally unaccountable!

[@timothywilliams4089]

In fact’ I didn’t know that I was working for the post office, none of us did, it’s a mystery’…

[@theresearcher253]

Both her and her predecessor didn't even know the PO could investigate and prosecute. It's like the head of BA not knowing they have aeroplanes.

[@franc9111]

@@theresearcher253 But they did

[@joerudnik9290]

She was ‘today years old’ when she found out so much new information about her workplace. No wonder those postal deliveries take so long!! Britain, turn your mail system over to FED EX!!

[@josephkerrigan733]

@@theresearcher253 I'm surprised the questioner didn't bring up a letter she sent in 2007/2008 I think where she was a communications director or something &b said "We the post office bring prosecutions when...etc" I suppose if he did she'd just lie her way out of it like always saying "I thought when I said that we brought prosecutions that we asked them to be brought but they were ran by someone else". I can't imagine anyone in the world believes her. She was the fucking CEO but she didn't know they had a fucking department which investigated & prosecuted people.

[@fredsmith1970]

EVERY time any of these crooks are confronted with their own words in an email... apparently what was written was never what was meant. Do all of the Post Office management communicate in metaphor and innuendo?

[@exiledscouser919]

I believe - depending on context - relying on others - you can see that it looks that way. Weasel words from the Weasel in Chief. She’s shameless in twisting interpretation to save her own miserable hide. Mr. Beer is reeling her in a bite at a time. Let’s hope he reserves the full skewering for Friday. She was the boss for most of this fiasco, bosses are held accountable for things that go wrong during their watch, they rightly carry the can

[@user-ho4rv6kg8u]

Anglican priest and possible bishop of London

[@roswilliams2899]

Not only the mail wasn't meant but it seems most execs never read anything they were sent, or if they did didn't understand any or it or didn't remember it. What's the PO doing employing these halfwits? BUT we paid them out of our taxes it seems.

[@kevinthepilgrim5441]

It’s as if she lives in a parallel universe where she can convincingly invent a narrative that totally exonerates her from any knowledge, responsibility, or understanding. Totally relying on a scenario that unless she was actually presented with solid irrefutable written evidence, she would have been incapable of personal logic, judgement or basic understanding. Is this really the appalling standard of automaton management we have in senior positions in this country? It would seem so.

[@TheComputec]

Better to look stupid, incompetent or ignorant than to admit guilt and responsibility... That seems to be the tactic that the Post Office management team are adopting throughout this process

[@debibuxton1335]

Agreed.

[@heliotropezzz333]

She remembers things clearly when she feels the information will favour her and she does not remember things at all when the information seems to do the opposite.

[@paulsuddes1144]

These people from the top downwards have blood on their hands…..people have died as a result of THEIR negligence

[@andyMSH700]

in my opoinion she put so many into prison when she knew they were not guilty so she should get life in prison for her actions as some even died as a direct result of her actions.........but hey its the UK so she will very likely get off as white collar crime is always rewarded.

[@HyacinthFl0wer]

You said crime and I agree with that word. So I’m thinking she’s the noun of the word “crime”.

[@Plethorality]

​​@@HyacinthFl0werand a bloody verb. Not only past tense. She is still at it by continuing to lie and not giving the money back.

[@gherkamum]

Cover Up....

[@Captain.Crispy]

I may or may not have said something that I don’t recall however it was said by someone who I can’t remember and I didn’t know anything in fact I probably wasn’t even there .

[@Mr.Sparkie1]

One question that's not been answered. Where did the missing money go?

[@chris-vn6sw]

Selective memory ! Seems able to recall indirect questions but can’t recall direct questions although the same date and time 🤔

[@artoflament]

Her treatment of Alan Bates is off hand. Her 'its too early in the investigation' argument shows that she was not willing to listen to evidence. If compelling evidence is found quickly it should not be ignored on the principle that has been found early. Her reasoning is fallacious and she sits there clearly oblivious to that fact.

[@user-bl8zw4ol1j]

Hope she watched the TV tonight the chance to see again the wonderful production alerting the general public what a clown this clergy woman is. Hope it helps her to remember any one normal would not be able to sleep with this guilt behind them. Where is the money Paula you robbed off the victims?

[@trevorclarey3336]

The Post Office , did I work there ?

[@denby87]

Should be jailed...

[@joehenry8896]

Anything less than prison will be a travesty. Knowingly watching innocent people go to prison and some committed suicide.

[@damianleah6744]

She basically ignored Mr Bates concerns since she defaulted to him just being a disgruntled former post master . The sheer incompetence and blinkered thinking is breathtaking from all the top management at the post office.

[@markwalker4142]

This is what happens when nepotism within ‘the system of the establishment’ places people in positions of influence with no oversight on competence or a moral compass . It’s endemic in all areas of publicly owned or financed organisations . The organisation and its reputation is protected at all costs . There’s never any accountability or sanction .

[@sellesportico]

The word stupidity comes to mind.

[@Nuts-Bolts]

Parliamentarians traditional steer clear of getting involved with the courts. However, such is the public outrage over this (and other scandals), that it may become politically necessary, for them to ensure that the courts eventually hand down long prisons sentences. Some MP’s are realizing that the time has arrived in which Enough-Is-Enough means just that!

[@franc9111]

That remains to be seen.

[@SNAFUferret]

The face tells you all you need to know. Both of them.

[@HyacinthFl0wer]

Yes indeed, I think so too.

[@user-bl8zw4ol1j]

ALL Of THEM so pleased that the TV have repeated it now Seems odd to me that the PO is to be taken over at this point cannot understand anyone wanting it now

[@cri78.97]

I'm 45 ,clean of every drug known to man 99 till 2018 ,I have seen it all ,every criminal, from high up to nobody's and I like to think I've seen a bit as a junki ? And how i was brought up( dragged)? But watching these criminals? I'm an angel 😇 compared to these folks, the Lord mones, etc? I'm ashamed by my actions, and then I see these criminals getting millions, ordained, Lords,OBEs, etc 😮ps i don't have millions either,but i wake up and i can smile again,,can they ?😢

[@timothywilliams4089]

Yes definitely, they will never be held to account 😢

[@cri78.97]

@timothywilliams4089 I'll never believe that in the quiet moments that they can't think they are good folks? I just got to believe that,or what is the point of anything ,,man I wanna cry 😢 😭

[@Mike35858]

Of course they can, she says sorry, really means she is sorry she has been found out. And what's with the tears?

[@cri78.97]

@Mike35858 are you asking me about tears? I'm crying that these folk literally killed families' home's relatives' relationships,all destroyed by folks who get effing letters before their names as if they are great awesome people looking out for the little guy? And all along, they are the biggest crooks. The establishment is a club, and we're not in it,,,that's what's with the tears,ps you the tears police?

[@josephkerrigan733]

@@cri78.97 Try not to dwell on it. I know it's impossible given how evil the actions they've taken are but there are many many people in the world who would go to the death believing they never did anything wrong & thinking about them any more than necessary will cause you more harm that good. Paula Vennells is one of these people. After all she did & ignored warnings over and over, while intentionally concealing evidence & lying for years she said her biggest failing was "being too trusting". Not trusting of sub-postmasters & mistresses who she gleefully sent off to jail & to their deaths from suicide. She is a evil person who I have no doubt believes she never did anything wrong & I have never more desired their to be a hell so she can actually face justice, because I fear she will escape unharmed from any legal criminal proceedings.

[@marybusch6182]

The emails speak for themselves...Frankly, I am not opposed to burning at the stake at this point... Alan Bates deserves more than a medal, maybe a knighthood and and estate.. The idea that the prosecutions continued and maybe even the perpetration of the fraudulent system errors.... says a lot about her convictions...

[@franc9111]

Absolutely right.

[@theresearcher253]

She's , 'almost certain', she went and asked her team.....What actually happened is she put a reply together based on her existing preconceptions: that there were no wrongful convictions and that the Horizon system was working perfectly well.

[@johnwilson571]

I don’t understand why the woman hasn’t been arrested by now.

[@DavidSmith-ze2wi]

Because she's part of a protected species.

[@franc9111]

Because this isn't a trial, it's a inquiry hearing, so we must remain polite, mustn't we ?

[@roswilliams2899]

At least the police are at long last setting about investigating but how long before any or these crooks are in jail?

[@richardbarton2709]

Covering her own R's

[@Mike_5]

Vennells was clearly totally unsuitable for the role but may have been recruited for that reason when the serious issues about Horizon (Which was also totally unsuitable for its role) started emerging continuously

[@tonydelaney3536]

No idea??? Suddenly, out of the blue a few hundred people all do the same thing and get their fingers in the till . . Does she honestly believe that this was the case, and not something wrong with the computers . . .?? I can’t listen to the lady, she is not worth a light!!

[@janeday9148]

What was her yearly bonus was it based on profits, did money paid by Sub Postmasters go into post office profits ,did that apply to other Managers ? If so there is the criminality ,it will have to be tested in a Court

[@rosandpetejohn9386]

I suspect Vennells must have a PhD in selective memory. I wonder how much tutoring she has received in preparation for the inquiry. Whatever the answer, it was either not enough or inferior in nature. The (pathetic) attempt at tears are crocodile in the extreme.

[@Plethorality]

Narcs dont need tutoring. She was like this all along. The croc tears are total manipulation. No remorse.

[@tonyalways7174]

Those senior managers involved in this scandal should be prosecuted and sued into bankruptcy.

[@neonwind]

Oh no, someone gave a shit about 'little people' Punch and Judy show. None of them will face real consequences. As Always.

[@andypandy955]

The more I watch the more incredulous she gets. Her voice grates on you she is evil.

[@cndns2]

The stance she is taking (choosing the lesser of 2 evils) is to look stupid and incompetent rather than admit guilt. Either way, Paula Vennells' life is over and will go down in the history books as guilty.

[@franc9111]

She has already gone on to take up another top job, quite seamlessly it would seem.

[@simonpostle3327]

I hope she getting used to court proceedings as hopefully she be in the dock to answer for her actions

[@franc9111]

This isn't a trial.

[@steves9250]

Any reasonable CEO would have bashing heads and stopping any further prosecutions the moment there was any question about them being unsafe.

[@geoffwright9570]

Didn't have an inkling like hell she didn't. As ceo she would have been well aware of what was happening but ignored it completely.

[@royphillips4751]

The "Peter Principle " at work. Rank incompetence progressively moved sideways and up until she was in charge. But blatantly lacking the skills to even run a tap. Thats what you get a CBE for?

[@Mr.Sparkie1]

She's in tears now that her story falls apart. She really should be giving evidence via video link from her prison cell.

[@franc9111]

This isn't a trial.

[@Mr.Sparkie1]

@@franc9111 it should be

[@richardc8029]

I am surprised that her skin doesn't erupt into black boils, that her hair doesn't fall out and that she doesn't vomit blood

[@michaelkemp6857]

She is clueless!!

[@nickwalter9630]

no she's not...she's misleading.

[@mikebarnes3557]

ON £3MILLION A YEAR !!!!!!

[@franc9111]

No she's been coached very carefully by her PR team.

[@HyacinthFl0wer]

Correct, misleading!

[@user-ho4rv6kg8u]

Anglican priest

[@onenote6619]

That large an increase in prosecutions over such a short space of time? Any rational person would have raised a red flag. Anyone with even a basic knowledge of statistics, doubly so.

[@user-zf9jc5yz7o]

British way - NO one will end up in Jail...

[@r8chlletters]

Liar. Liar. Liar.

[@philhart4849]

Evil is always blind to itself.

[@islesofshoals]

Why doesn't she just admit what she did?

[@philhart4849]

Answers: She is still dangerously arrogant. She refuses to accept any responsibility for her actions. It is always everybody else's fault (in what passes for her mind). She is a narcissist.

[@islesofshoals]

AGREE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SHE IS SQUANDERING MORE RESOURCES, SHE'S DIGGING HER HOLE DEEPER. AGREE, HER NARCISSUM BEING FED WITH THIS ATTENTION. DO YOU THINK SHE WILL BE STRICKEN OF HER ILL GOTTEN GAINS AND GO TO PRISON?

[@chris-vn6sw]

Trying to “cozy up” by addressing colleagues and sub postmasters by their first names and the “women of faith” narrative

[@MargaretLangley]

I sincerely hope that she and her cohorts are taken to court the crimes they have committed and the victims be compensated by her and her cohorts, not by taxpayers money.

[@mrjockt]

Was having a faulty memory a requirement for holding a senior position at the Post Office, it seems the most common answers given to this committee seem to be “I can’t recall” or “I can’t remember” along with “I was unaware”.

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

Good morning, Ms. Vennells. Good morning, Mr. Beer. Ms. Vennells, until 2019 you were Group CEO of Post Office Limited? Was I? I don't recall that. Who are you again, by the way?

[@kingsaf3998]

I can’t believe anyone yet alone a women of the cloth could behave in such a deplorable, cold and without any conscience. How can she still defend her position.

[@philhart4849]

Her position is indefensible.

[@andyiswonderful]

Who was her predecessor in the job, and why aren't they being questioned, too?

[@chairmanalf7856]

I believe that it was Adam Crozier and he was questioned a few weeks ago.

[@racheldaniels5235]

Lock her up .

[@realitycheck7802]

I thought weasels had 4 legs and were covered in fur! I am freaked out as I worked in the Fujitsu building in Bracknell for a year when it was the Met office HQ, in 1965.

[@ataxpayer723]

"I was concerned to receive an email", ( but I wasn't concerned enough to ask any questions about what was going on..)

[@janetlowe6448]

At what point does this woman think she should have been concerned 😦

[@JeffDavis-eg3ut]

What a oxygen thief

[@briansymmes7917]

This should have been the most basic of calculations. On average, how many sub-postmasters were suspected of fraud before and after the Horizon software was implemented? They must have known that the huge uptick in suspected fraud could not have been a coincidence.

[@iangeorge6409]

Absolutely.

[@briansymmes7917]

@@iangeorge6409 I haven’t followed the whole case, but I’ve never heard any mention of these figures being discussed, even though the worst statistician on the planet would be able to spot that deviation. I wonder if there are internal memos in the PO system that question the sudden rise in fraud amongst sub-postmasters.

[@mikeharrington-simpson2393]

It beggars belief that a woman in such a high position head of the post office can have such a bad memory?

[@stevenrobertson8329]

Incompetence personified.

[@michaelc821]

Go after the lawyers also, they also knew it was a lie...take away their licence. Starmer was in the crown prosecution service at the time. Don't let him get out of it.

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

Having seen that 'CRIMINAL LAWYER' Jarnail Singh giving evidence, It is difficult to believe that he ever had any licence of any sort, except perhaps to drive a car.

[@michaelc821]

@@dovetonsturdee7033 quite right. All lawyers involved in putting innocent people in jail need to sit I a jail cell themselves. No mercy for anyone, including Fujitsu and Rishi Sunak father in law company which is an affiliate company.. For those who didn't know that. Questions need to asked of Starmer, as he came from the crown prosecution service as be is always harking about on priminister questions. The walls are falling down..

[@suechandler8162]

An unbalanced ledger is not a crime and is not evidence. The REASON for the imbalance is the evidence. All those prosecutions were made using false evidence. The prosecutors all at least suspected Horizon was flawed so that makes all of them guilty of misleading a trial by presenting false evidence.

[@GodsWorkShy]

That's exactly what i do when anybody asks me any difficult questions...plead ignorant and stupid...works all the time

[@hughshepherd6596]

Weasel!

[@neatpaws]

THIS woman is a 'practising' christian .. apparently. 😨

[@shieldaigbencher]

She needs locking up.

[@windyworm]

No idea = criminal negligence, knew = criminal. Either way she’s guilty.

[@aliasukvideo]

"I don't recall". "Not that I can recall with any clarity." #shameful Bring on legal procession. This theatre of poor memory ha simply gone too far.

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

Unfair. She can recall with absolute clarity anything which she thinks puts her in a positive light, as well as undocumented conversations in office corridors. It is only everything else she 'cannot recall'.

[@simonwallis1787]

Clearly a very shifty and evasive witness spinning a tissue of lies.

[@pmgreatorex]

I don’t think I’ve ever heard so many words have so little meaning. When asked a direct question, Vennells responds with a word salad. She deflects and dissembles. Even when presented with written evidence, she uses smoke and mirrors to avoid giving a clear answer. I’m watching from Australia. The bright spots in the inquiry are seeing and hearing Alan Bates’ name. Bless him.

[@allanbailey3258]

The sargent Schultz excuse...I hear nuffink..I see nuffink . Just unbelievable.

[@joisagirlsname]

This information should be coming out in their criminal trials.

[@MichaelEnright-gk6yc]

Who sacked second sight.

[@TimothyBergin]

She must be a friend of kranky, I can't remember but I'll say I'm a tiny bit sorry, she is above herself, selfish, full of self centered importance and needs to be totally shamed, those tears are false. Putting her in prison for what she has done would be an insult, remove all her assets then jail her never to return.

[@simonwallis1787]

Why was remote access being used in the way it was to just add losses to pos accounts. ? Why ?

[@Plethorality]

How was she allowed to remain a preist? SHE SHOWED NO MERCY!!

[@Meiboscopy]

It's all rubbish and screwed up our post office

[@patrick18051949]

She is a liar she gives plenty of bull shit, she is being told something is wrong but did not take I to account.

[@desgardner7169]

There are many people that should be jailed over this ASAP! Money should be returned from their bank accounts ASAP! The lies that have been told are disgusting, they all knew about it! that's the worst thing about this....

[@pieterfaber24]

There has never been a single implementation of a large scale computer system that didn’t have bugs in it. It is beyond comprehension to think that individuals involved in the introduction of the Horizon system would not have been expecting at least some issues. To expect anything less would rank as delusional.

[@sphinx1017]

Jason beer is being very gentle with her. Why?

[@debibuxton1335]

Dear Sphinx...you need to watch PV Day 143 up around 1.18 mark onwards..rest assured Jason is giving her some good verbal nudging. 🙂His usual calm collected self but nicely blunt.

[@franc9111]

Because this is an inquiry hearing - and there is the possibility of parliamentary privilege being invoked.

[@user-js3rg9sj1k]

NOT ME GOV.

[@MichaelEnright-gk6yc]

Waffle and deflection.

[@rhall579]

She didn't deserve to run a charity shop!

[@kruger-3522]

This woman HAS to go to jail for a long time, she needs to lose EVERYTHING, she has destroyed so many lives and some have taken their own lives, ALL DUE TO HER , she could of prevented all of this

[@franc9111]

Quite possibly, but this isn't a trial.

[@roswilliams2899]

Not only her but a fair number of PO senior employees should be stripped of all they possess and then jailed.

[@michaelc821]

Go after the lawyers also..

[@nigelmooney4628]

whats with all the coughing in the background? is she being fed by code?

[@tarynwatson8971]

Corruption. Investigation. Guilty Verdicts. Prison.

[@nickfletcher4132]

Denial and obfuscation.

[@MartinLane-pq9fy]

No of course she didn’t, she was just the CEO on £1million plus per year. Why would she be interested in what went on in her company?….

[@daleharlow6006]

Watch she will get an even better job after this, a big corporation will be watching saying she's good 😞

[@franc9111]

She already has.

[@user-bl8zw4ol1j]

Consodering her position she dont know a lot!!??How the hell did play the part for so long???