Post Office scandal inquiry to become statutory, ministers to announce

May 18, 2021

An independent inquiry into the Post Office’s Horizon IT scandal is to be put on a statutory footing following calls from campaigners.

Sky News has learnt that ministers will announce in the coming days that the probe, chaired by retired High Court judge Sir Wyn Williams, will have new powers to compel witnesses to give evidence and hand over documents.

The move comes just weeks after the government announced that the inquiry would remain on a non-statutory basis in order to allow it to conclude more quickly.

Whitehall sources said on Tuesday that Sir Wyn himself had asked Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, to make the inquiry statutory.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Last month, 39 sub-postmasters had their convictions quashed at the Court of Appeal after what had been dubbed Britain’s biggest miscarriage of justice.

In recent days, hundreds more branch managers have been contacted by the Post Office to offer assistance with overturning their convictions.

Many had been wrongly charged with theft and conspiracy to defraud.

One insider said there was no evidence that witnesses were failing to cooperate with the inquiry, but that as it deepened, it was necessary to ensure compliance.

Failure to produce evidence to a statutory inquiry can carry potential sanctions of fines or imprisonment.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: “All parties are committed to cooperating with the independent inquiry underway, which is continuing to make progress under the chairmanship of Sir Wyn Williams.

“We continue to engage with relevant parties on all options available to ensure we get to the bottom of where mistakes were made, and to ensure something like this cannot happen again.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

“The inquiry will also assess whether lessons have been learned and concrete changes have taken place or are underway at Post Office Ltd.”

A progress report on Sir Wyn’s report is expected this summer, with his final report expected in autumn next year.

He is expected to make a series of recommendations to Mr Kwarteng following widespread public outrage over the scandal.

Paula Vennells, the Post Office’s former boss, has relinquished a number of corporate board roles and is facing calls to be stripped of her CBE.

Read Entire Article