POST OFFICE SCANDAL: Huge amount of police requests for Horizon-based evidence 'surprised' boss

Post Office Horizon IT inquiry continues with evidence from Nick Read, chief executive of the Post Office.
In the inquiry on Thursday, Mr Read said he was “surprised” at the “scale” of interest from the police, after learning that 33 investigations into branches were being carried out in June this year.
The current boss was asked about the organisation’s response to the fact that 22 police forces were investigating Post Office branches.
Mr Nick Read said: “I think there was some surprise at the scale of requests in terms of the 22 law enforcement agencies and the 33 requests.
“I think we were of the opinion that it was in the ones and twos in terms of requests for information… the primary discomfort was the size and the number of the requests that were coming forward.”
The inquiry heard that the police were “requesting or awaiting Horizon-based evidence” for their investigations.
Mr Read told the inquiry that its internal investigations team was “massively stretched” at the time that the police were engaging with the business.
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[@daveydart6255]

They did not want to incriminate themselves so held onto the information. The Police need to obtain warrants to search and seize all documents relating to this conspiracy and take this into a criminal court of law.

[@leso204]

All damaging documents will have been shredded beer asked where the missing documents was early'er in the year

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

There's so much backing and filling, going on. It seems to me that there is a wider case to be made, about how generalised this level of f*ckwittery, pervades our governmental structures. Their behaviour is deeply unintelligent.

[@peterbennett5910]

None of the public are surprised at the police interest. “The board wanted to understand “ It’s just unbelievable. Have the board suddenly woken up having previously not understood anything under Reads watch. He is only interested in himself, his pay and his bonus.

[@mary-y8x8h]

Agree. The only thing that has surprised the public is the decades the PO has been allowed to get away with their crimes. It took a TV drama to push this subject over the line.

[@CDRS2012]

You've been running a criminal enterprise, yet you're surprised by the level of police requests for information. And you sought assurances over the use of this information. Can a blackmailer impose conditions on police who are investigating their activities. Sir Wyn had him neatly over the barrel

[@VeronicaMarriott-b6t]

Put him in jail and let’s see how surprised he will be

[@andydudley1775]

i think the court be most upset after trying so hard to make innacent people giulty .how they going to explain this to there criminal friends with money . sorry but we must do our job now.

[@markbullen5989]

Not gonna happen

[@Pmrace1960]

he comes across really badly

[@paulnicholls4791]

The lot of them should be arrested and charged

[@markbullen5989]

Not gonna happen

[@pauljeffries1495]

How much has this inquiry cost and what's the point if these evil liars aren't jailed

[@markbullen5989]

Just give me a pay rise. Because I have to talk to the ordinary people

[@mikelm222]

This defies belief - "Oh sorry but but we don't feel like co-operating with the police" After everything that's happened, After all the un-necessary suffering they have caused, there is still such institutional arrogance

[@Kotch111]

This was fundamentally illegal. The law on provision of data is quite clear cut. This should lead to prison sentences for every member of the Board.

[@lails9241]

It’s appalling that the board did not take as much interest in the wrongful prosecution and persecution of innocent post masters as they seem to have taken when there is a possibility of criminal charges being made …..

[@Herblay63]

POL still doing their best to cover their tracks after all this time. Effectively not processing the requests from the 22 Police Authorities.

[@toadds]

That old word: robust. We all know it's not robust, that's why we're here. Why do they keep using that word, do they think that will excuse what they did?

[@stuartmcmillan8458]

Should be in prison 😢

[@SheenaStandring-qd4kr]

What an utter bunch of lying toads

[@peterbennett5910]

Linking two pieces of evidence together from the inquiry. “ I think you knew”. “Paula could not get there emotionally”. It’s in the public interest for the Police to get fully involved.

[@Ian-mj4pt]

Surprised? You lot treated people like criminals and hounded them when they did nothing wrong . All the bosses were just concerned about themselves and lying

[@grahamnichols1416]

... and their over-blown salaries boosted by eye-watering bonuses.

[@alanfrost4661]

Just how long can they keep this going GET SOME BODY JAILED

[@markbullen5989]

Not gonna happen

[@two20john]

Such a posh bloke whose legacy is going to be this scandal and the constant moaning about his salary. Not a good look.

[@kquat7899]

And this clown wanted his pay doubled.

[@leplessis8179]

Who was responsible for employing this fool??

[@LincolnTank-StillOnTheSprue]

The old boys network that controls most of the large companies in London

[@JeanRinger]

Wheels within Wheels Iill scratch your back type Corruption is Rife

[@francisjoussot3521]

Nominated by other fools

[@jamesbowskill362]

That OTHER FOOL, known as davey.

[@richardstone3473]

All these PO managers investigators etc keep reminding me of the streaks of excrement that stain toilet bowls. When is the law going to apply bleach and hot water?

[@robertbrett-y2p]

End this Charade!

[@JeanRinger]

None of them give a hoot about anyone as long as it does not interfere with with their cushy little lives it is disgracful the lies they tell

[@charleswillcock3235]

33 police forces all now investigating the Post Office, to the casual observer would make you think there could be a lot of duplication of effort. Maybe one police force should take the lead with a secondment of a couple of officers from the other 32 to help. This whole event just highlights how mental is the establishment which runs the UK, little wonder productivity is so low.

[@chrissailing8856]

Only 22 Law Enforcement Agencies?!! What about the other half !!

[@RichardKinghorn]

All the bosses knew of Horizons problems for years before it came out. The reason they did nothing is simple. They want to protect the system at all costs because of the cost of it. To accept fully now of its faults is to admit they knew all the time and did nothing to stop the prosecutions. I do hope that charges are brought to every single one of the bosses that were in charge all throughout the time Horizon is and was in use. Of course they won’t as the government is just as culpable so the enquiry will still be going on in 2 years time as they will find a way to delay time and again to protect those at the top of the chain.

[@devilmyke]

People's lives were ruined

[@Pamela-df5wr]

If it hadn't been for that programme on ITV people all around the world wouldn't have known how all those people suffered. I hadn't realised the enormity of it

[@devilmyke]

@@Pamela-df5wr A random lady told me and I thought..surly not..I went home and looked it up.

[@JJPwfelli]

Even looks a........

[@andydudley1775]

i would be most anoyed .they was told by the tory we got your back .and now look at them .never trust a tory .loooooooooooooooool.

[@carlosgravy7966]

Prison, please.😊

[@BeaHindebars]

These enquiries are a complete waste of taxpayers money, no-one is ever held accountable for anything

[@11abrook]

I agree, the Establishment just uses them to diffuse the public anger imo.

[@tomricketts7821]

Only at the top if they are truely guilty the establishment will look after each other some low to middle level minion will be thrown to the wolves however

[@leso204]

I have said before only the lawyers will be the winners at the end of all this ........

[@richardstone3473]

does feel like that.

[@markbullen5989]

Completely agree. But at least thae lawyers are earning good coin.

[@robertthompson6346]

Yes all these huge bonus earning PO directors past and present, must be worried about their exposure as company directors to arrest and litigation for being good at accepting their massively wayward bonuses - but useless at actually managing the business properly.

[@kcribin5654]

The art of “risk defer” listen to these CORROUPT people. All part of a club, non accountable to anyone

[@j.j.1064]

Public inquiries are often presented as though they carry the weight of a judicial process, yet in reality, they are little more than political theatre designed to delay or deflect genuine legal action. The very structure of these inquiries allows for the appearance of accountability while offering ample opportunity for obfuscation and selective amnesia under questioning, all without the binding force of a court of law. This dilutes real justice, as evidenced by the Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday. Despite taking 12 years and costing hundreds of millions, the outcome was a belated, token apology rather than meaningful consequences for those responsible. The process not only delayed justice but effectively stymied police investigations that could have acted swiftly on time-sensitive evidence, rendering the inquiry an elaborate exercise in damage control rather than a pursuit of truth and accountability.

[@markbullen5989]

Wages for the lawyers

[@blindfreddy9157]

May they live in surprising times.

[@JeanRinger]

He’s well named NICK

[@andyniblock43]

What did he do to ‘earn’ £3,000,000 ?

[@markbullen5989]

Shield himself against prosecution. Because he is executive level. Bit like boss level in the mafia

[@tonyyates2012]

Seems to me that he's playing ignorant. Clean skin strategy.

[@coam3708]

We need to understand....what a get out ...full of chite

[@davidanness6180]

About time

[@coam3708]

Jason beer probably the best KC in the world 😅

[@SHADOW.GGG-]

dont say no to plod

[@mickylove76]

Read is a slime bag.

[@alanrogers9597]

I'm not,,, they're all bad uns !!

[@MikeCresswell-lw4wb]

A clever individual in the hairlines but gently ducking and diving nonetheless

[@longrange1977]

Are these police requests about the original PO prosecutions, which would have been initiated by the PO, or police investigations about the miscarriages of justice cause by said prosecutions? I'm kinda confused, description says June 21, surely they weren't still harassing those poor people in 2021? If the police were investigating the management, why the F would police allow them to say "Err, no." when asked for information? Would they not just get a warrant? Make it make sense please...

[@coam3708]

BS gaffes Brains 🧠 😮

[@dmgk3707]

Jesus wept!

[@markbullen5989]

POINTLESS.

[@robertbrett-y2p]

Hide stuff!

[@ironmage6105]

liar!

[@Ian-mj4pt]

They all are and were more interested in saving their own arses by lying and hiding evidence

[@taichi500]

Same old story every time. Its about time public enquiries are conducted with the power to prosecute. Otherwise they are toothless "showcases" to absolve the real culprits.

[@robertbrett-y2p]

End this Charade!