Thread by @nickwallis

Day 7 of the Bates v Post Office High Court trial and I am currently at a deserted Walton-on-Thames station in the middle of what should be rush hour. I have less than 2 hours to get to court. Hmm...

Whilst I am trying to work out how to get to court for the #postofficetrial, please do buy today's @DailyMailUK - on p10 there is a piece about Seema Morra whose husband first got me interested in this story 8 years ago.

Spent the last two hours collecting the car, driving 13 miles from Walton to Wimbledon, parking, and am now on the Milk Float line to Temple after which there will be a short uphill sprint to the Rolls Building. I suspect I will miss an hour of proceedings.
#postofficetrial

Needless to say I am quite stressed right now and would like to apologise to all who were expecting live tweets to start at 10.30am today. Please direct any ire at @SW_help and their inability to finish their engineering works on time.

@SW_Help I mentioned earlier in this thread an article in today’s @DailyMailUK on p10 - I should also draw your attention to this fortnight’s Private Eye which has this cover (pictured). Article on p29 alleging cover up. Go buy it.

@SW_Help @DailyMailUK From @CllrAnnMarieB "Sorry to hear about your difficulties getting to London today. I gave up and worked from home. But its @NetworkRailSE where you should be directing ire. They are responsible for the tracks.” Apologies to @SW_Help #postofficetrial

@SW_Help @DailyMailUK @CllrAnnMarieB @NetworkRailSE Actually to add to the moaning, I booked an @UberUK from Walton on Thames station at about 8.30am which would have got me to court at around 10.08am. I was allocated a driver and so whilst I was waiting I made some calls etc. 20 minutes later I checked his progress...

@SW_Help @DailyMailUK @CllrAnnMarieB @NetworkRailSE @UberUK … towards me and he had cancelled. @UberUK has its uses, but as soon as those drivers decide they can get a better fare, they’re off. @UberUKsupport I have his name and details if that would be useful…

@SW_Help @DailyMailUK @CllrAnnMarieB @NetworkRailSE @UberUK @UberUKsupport Okay I’m in court 26 at the Rolls Building. Mr Patrick Green QC, for the claimants is speaking to a blonde woman from the Post Office, who I believe might be Helen Dickinson (I have just snuck in so I have no idea). Let the live tweets commence….

@SW_Help @DailyMailUK @CllrAnnMarieB @NetworkRailSE @UberUK @UberUKsupport JFSA QC taking her over her witness statement. She’s from the Agent Application Process Team. She says in her WS “applicants often get external support from … accountants and lawyers."

@SW_Help @DailyMailUK @CllrAnnMarieB @NetworkRailSE @UberUK @UberUKsupport QC makes the point that applicants can’t get advice on things they don’t know about yet.
HD (if it is she) agrees.

@SW_Help @DailyMailUK @CllrAnnMarieB @NetworkRailSE @UberUK @UberUKsupport QC says applicant SPMRs tend to get advice from accountants on their business plan.
HD agrees.

@SW_Help @DailyMailUK @CllrAnnMarieB @NetworkRailSE @UberUK @UberUKsupport HD WS says she would not typically liaise with the applicant SPMR’s solicitors, but they do what they can to smooth the process.
HD notes NT contracts makes a specific point of advising SPMRs to get legal advice.
QC asks why it wasn’t in previous contract.
HD doesn’t know.

@SW_Help @DailyMailUK @CllrAnnMarieB @NetworkRailSE @UberUK @UberUKsupport QC asks how many applicants take advice.
HD aware that some do do that.
Mr Green does not push her for a figure or percentage.
back to HD’s witness statement (par61) which says it is expected that applicant SPMs will get a significant amount of info from the outgoing SPM

@SW_Help @DailyMailUK @CllrAnnMarieB @NetworkRailSE @UberUK @UberUKsupport and the outgoing SPM has a responsibility to hand over a lot of information to the incoming SPM.
QC asking about the websites which help SPMs with applications and finding new businesses.
#postofficetrial

@SW_Help @DailyMailUK @CllrAnnMarieB @NetworkRailSE @UberUK @UberUKsupport QC asking what info outgoing SPMs should give. HD agrees it’s whether the premises are freehold or leasehold, customer base etc - but NOT contractual liabilities etc
QC the outgoing SPMR is a vendor and so is going to be broadly posititve about it “it’s a nice little runner” etc

@SW_Help @DailyMailUK @CllrAnnMarieB @NetworkRailSE @UberUK @UberUKsupport This phrase tickles the judge who interjects to note how dated the allusion is.

but the point is the outgoing SPM is always going to talk up his PO to an incoming PO.
QC it’s not likely an SPM is going to talk about the contracts or the clauses in the SPM contract, especially as they have signed their own contract which requires...

… them to keep confidential PO business confidential
HD agrees
So QC and HD agrees that when HD says in her witness statement there is an expectation an outgoing SPM will inform an incoming SPM about the branch, it’s about products and services, not contractual liabilities.

QC also makes the point that PO is not contractually bound by whatever the outgoing SPM says to the incoming SPM.
HD agrees.

QC points out summary of terms sent to incoming SPMs which they sign and return contains clauses such as “for use as as guide only. POL will in no way held responsible for action taken as a result of this summary."

also in same doc “note the above pars summarize certain sections only of the SPMC… a SPM may not rely on” the terms within.
#postofficetrial
It is not Helen Dickinson in the box it is Mrs Sarah Rimmer. Apologies to HD for getting that wrong.

We are taking a ten minute break. Mrs Rimmer will return to the box afterwards.
#postofficetrial

No we won’t! Mr Green QC stands up after the break and tho Mrs Rimmer has been in the box all break, he has no further questionss for Mrs Rimmer. There is no re-examination by the PO QC so we now have John Breedon from the Post Office.
#postofficetrial

Mr Breedon has been sworn in. I will hopefully get his Witness Statement soon. Mr Breedon is wearing a white shirt, dark great suit and light/dark candy-striped tie. He has grey, thinning hair.
#postofficetrial

JFSA QC is on his feet.
QC is talking about interview notes using voice recordings. Doc notes that from 08 contract advisors will record SPM applicant interviews. Do you remember that?
JB doesn’t, he thought it was 2006.
JB accepts he was mistaken.

QC say both NTC and SPMC allow PO to terminate an SPMR - QC asks if the provisions are materially different?
JB says no - they’re just more explicit in the NTC

QC moves onto another doc - which says an SPMR may be suspended at any time if PO considers it desirable, possibly cos s/he’s been arrested, or charged with an offence, civil proceedings being brought or there is a suspicion accounts have been misrepresented, SPM is insolvent..

etc etc
The QC points out that NTC and SPMC have key differences. NTC where the PO considers it to be “necessary” and SPMC says “desirable”. QC says this essentially materially different, but does it in reality operate like that? Or does PO do what it wants to do as it sees fit.

JB says his interpretation is that the difference in the contracts in this case is not material to the way the PO operates.
QC you would accept that suspension is not a neutral act? It materially affects the SPM...
JB not sure what you mean.
QC for an SPMR, being suspended...

… is very serious.
JB v serious for both parties. PO takes suspension v seriously.
QC there’s also a serious stigma to being suspended?
JB potentially
QC and if they’d spent many years working in the community you’d respect that
JB well in the context of the whole picture...

… you’d take that into account.
QC and in order to have the whole picture you’d have to investigate, wouldn’t you?
JB demurs a little - says it depends what has happened.
QC and a suspension affects their revenue?
JB yes - but they have the option to get a temp...

QC discussion about what negotiating position the SPM is in when it comes to accepting a temp.
QC typically when an SPM is suspended, they don’t have access to the counter, their records or Horizon and in many cases they don’t get the ARQ logs from H immediately...

JB agrees with all the latter points except about the ARQ logs which he doesn’t know whether they do or don’t.
#postofficetrial

QC quoting 12:12 of SPMC about losses caused by negligence, carelessness or error.
and now quoting another document saying SPMC is required to make good all losses no matter howsoever they occur. That’s not correct, is it?
JB in the context of 12:12, no.
QC and that is one of...

… the issues in this case.
QC shows a standard form letter which also asks PO staff to remind SPMs that they should make good all losses.
JB agrees it is not correct in the context or 12:12.
QC says that when there is a loss the standard letter cites...

… on several occasions the need to make good all losses whatever their cause and it is only after several letters the SPM is told they have to make good losses caused by negligence, carelessness or error.
JB says he might have been aware of this but no conscious of it.

JB adds that he doesn’t think anyone was trying to do anything untoward.
QC takes us through the sequence of letters sent to Pam Stubbs.
QC first one is a demand for losses based on her responsibilities to cover all losses. Does he accept this is how it reads?
JB does

QC notes a reply from Pam Stubbs to PO “I remain convinced this is a Horizon fault” and that she is going to the NFSP for help as PO haven’t helped her. I have written about how much help the NFSP will be on Horizon here (tl;dr = none):
postofficetrial.com/2018/11/bates-…

QC notes the reply PS gets from the PO saying she will have her debt investigated and that her debt will be put on hold. QC then raises the next letter PS gets from the PO two weeks later which is another demand for money.
#postofficetrial

correction - 4 days after, not two weeks. QC asks if this is a “postal instruction” that PS must comply with. JB agrees.
QC takes JB to another letter where PS gets a demand for cash in the next month. “Failure to meet repayment terms will allow us to deduct the amount...

… outstanding from your remuneration.”
QC notes the letter is from the same person who said he would put PS’s debts on hold whilst the investigation was ongoing.
QC now looking at an internal email which says PS is finding being chased for the sums distressing...

…. and asks if it’s surprising that she would find it distressing.
JB agrees it might well be distressing.
QC asking if an investigation should cover any factor which could have caused an error should be checked.
JB says he’s out of his comfort zone here.

QC rephrases. Shouldn’t everything be checked whatever the cause?
JB says it’s hard because at PO you can’t see eveything that’s going on in a branch
QC says and SPMs don’t know everything that is going on at PO. That’s why they’re asking for an investigation.
#postofficetrial

QC asks if it is reasonable to explain to an SPM in writing why they are being suspended.
JB agrees
QC quotes from a letter which says PO is considering a summary termination in view of outstanding terms.
QC says so as the onus on an SPMR to find out what’s going on...

… it’s reasonable for them to ask. And PS did ask the PO for help through the helpline and got marked low priority. Why?
JB don’t know - don’t know how helpline prioritises calls.
#postofficetrial

QC if the debt was caused with error in Horizon or a PO employee or some problem with camelot. There should be some feedback about this to the SPM
JB that would be part of the investigation
QC well from the way this document is noted - losses should be made good immediately...

… or repaid from remuneration over 12 months. And that’s not right is it?
JB it’s not a true interpretation of 12:12
QC but that’s what everyone is working to at Post Office, isn’t it?
The SPM has no way of finding out how losses might arise or any way of disputing them.

JB They do.
QC They don’t - they can settle to cash or settle centrally - ie accept the debt.
JB and then dispute it.
QC once it has been accepted as a debt
JB yes this allows the PO to know what the sum involved is, which might be settled by a TC.
#postofficetrial

Judge asks if it makes any difference to any investigation whether or not the PO perceives the discrepancy as a debt or a discrepancy.
JB No.
Judge that’s what I thought.
#postofficetrial

QC Have you ever heard of the helpline being called the hell-line
JB I haven’t, no.
QC does the helpline fall under your purvue
JB No.
Now we are on to how the PO decides to suspend a SPM.
Doc says it usually comes from an audit with a discrepancy of more than £1k

A field support advisor (auditor?), calls a contract support advisor and the advisor makes a decision to precautionary suspend someone.
This is a judgement call by a contract advisor often discussed with other CAs (inc JB).
Guiding principles for suspension.

If misuse of funds or stock is admitted suspension is automatic. Amount is irrelevant. This is under review.
QC do you remember this?
JB vaguely.

QC if a balancing discrepancy the day before an audit at 7.30pm is of £10K… you have to put in the cash that is missing
JB or sttle centrally
QC but you have to accept it
JB yep
QC but if the next morning than money isn’t in the till because the SPM doesn’t have the cash..

… or a cheque that they want to put in, there’s going to be a discrepancy.
JB it should balance
QC is there then a discrepancy that could lead to suspension?
JB possibly
QC goes through all the things a CA has to weigh up before a suspension decision.

QC what if an SPM were having problems with H and was complaining about it? [paints a scenario]
QC let’s have a look at that last factor - “willingness to make good the loss”. So if an SPMR is having a problem that they see is not their fault, their UNwillingness to pay...

… could be a factor in their suspension?
JB it might have been when that document was active. I don’t think that is the practice now.
QC was it then?
JB it wouldn’t help. but there is a danger this is all being taken in black and white when there are a lot of factors to take...

… into considerations.
QC also notes document which says “if there is any doubt, suspend” and then there’s a star there which says “under review”. Is that still the situation?
JB I think it’s changed. eg the CA no long makes a the suspension. It’s the Line Manager based on...

… information supplied by the CA.
QC If decision is made not to suspend the CA must draft a document and justify their decision.
JB correct.
QC notes june document which shows 193 suspensions in April 2010 to end March 2011.
FOI shows of the 193 - 54 wer reinstated.

…. 48 resigned to avoid summary termination.
86 summary terminated.
38 appealed against summary termination
28 unsuccessful
8 reinstated.
QC a lot of reinstatements there.

CA on receipt of audit advice and other documents decides on suspension and writes to SPM to advise reasons for suspension and invite SPM to interview.
QC is it not practice to discuss the SPMs case between CAs before doing so?
JB don’t understand the question.

QC okay. goes back to hypothetical scenario. £1000 missing from till. SPM suspended after discussion between the suditor and the CA. But the SPM is not told why then.
JB correct, but from the moment this happens there is a review. It might be we got it wrong and we would...

… reverse the decision
QC would you renumerate them for the income the have lost?
JB in the circs where we have got it wrong in the light of info coming to light during our investigation yes we would repay them. We do get things wrong, we’re only human.

We break for lunch.
#postofficetrial

We’re back still talking to Mr Breedon from the PO about remuneration payments for suspended SPMRs who were suspended in error. looking at a Guiding Principles document for remuneration. GP says SPMR should not receive any remuneration for product pay.
#postofficetrial

QC does this happen?
JB well don’t forget the SPM will have a temp, so we’d have to look at it all
QC okay so if they got some money whilst suspended via a temp, you would pay them back minus the amount they gained from the temp
JB yes
#postofficetrial

QC But the GP here says the remuneration repayment should only be made if the PO has acted “unreasonably”, whereas you said you would act fairly to the SPMR if you were wrong. Do you know this document?
JB No
QC do you accept you are saying you would act more fairly than this...

… document says you should in practice?
JB Yes
QC what is the proper thing to do?
JB we should do what is in the GP
Judge intervenes to be clear about what JB has done in his own experience and what should be done. JB repeats unfamiliarity with GP document, but says...

… really he should go by the latter.
QC draws attention to Mr Abdulla’s suspension letter (lead claimant) and says it doesn’t give any reason for his suspension. Which contradicts what you told me is the correct practice.
JB that is a letter I thought would precede a fuller...

… letter.
QC But that contradicts what you said in court this morning.
QC Let’s have a look at Pam Stubbs suspension letter. It doesn’t mention why she has been suspended. Nothing about the allegations against her.
JB yes but at the point of suspension, the charges against her

… would have been made.
QC Let’s have a look at Liz Stockdale’s suspension letter (another lead claimant). No allegations. QC says it’s quite difficult for the SPMR to know with precision what’s being said. It’s important that the grounds of suspension are explained in...

… writing so that when someone who has gone through the traumatic experience of being suspended has it spelled out. And that is not happening is it?
JB No but it does normally and explains how it would happen.
Judge intervenes for clarity. There are differences in...

… the way the suspension process works under NTC and SPMC.
JB says an SPMR wouldn’t normally get reasons for suspension under OLD contract until they get a “reasons to urge” letter of invitation to interview to discuss charges against them.
#postofficetrial

QC notes there is an important point of natural justice that people accused of something should know what it is.
JB accepts.

QC now going into case law Dalgey (?) v Post Office in the Court of Appeal (if anyone can find the link on bailli.org please tweet me). “I see nothing in the evidence which justifies… summary termination”
#postofficetrial

Basically the ruling raises issues of fairness in the Post Office’s contract.
QC onto how it could be distressing to be suspended without really knowing why
JB I can see how it might be
#postofficetrial

QC reads Pam Stubbs' "letter to urge” [not sure whether this is quaint PO speak or legalese] (ie invitation to meeting to explain why PS thinks she might have losses in branch)
then reads a letter from PS in which she complains that she is being told it is only her or her….

… assistants’ fault.
QC lists what it could be - faults in H, client/data integrity issues, human error at the PO end.
JB says he’s not familiar with Horizon issues,
QC but you’d have to look at everything
JB yes
QC but you’re not familiar with Horizon...

… issues.
JB No. It’s very much not my area
QC How long have you been in your job?
JB [says precisely, I didn’t hear how long - a while, I think]
QC now onto access to info on Horizon available to the SPMR post-suspension
#postofficetrial

QC asks how can an SPMR interrogate H post-suspension
JB says SPMRs should only access their info if they are accompanied by a PO employee

QC left trying to explain why they are not liable for a figure they don’t accept
JB yes
QC so it’s even more important they get access to information
JB I can see why you’re saying that
QC But PO don’t accept that any SPMRs have been disadvantaged by not having access to their...

actually - PO has made the point there is no evidence that lack of access to the information has prejudiced any trial.
QC you would accept if you are trying to disprove an allegation against you - you need access to the information and the PO has that information...

… and the SPMR can’t get at it.
JB accepts what the QC is saying.
QC asks if h is aware how much it costs for an SPMR to hire lawyers to get ARQ logs requested
JB no
QC is it acceptable to have to wait for criminal or civil lawyers to get involved?
JB speaking personally , no.

Sorry I’m going to have to reboot. Computer is going slow again.
#postofficetrial

Okay back and going slightly more quickly…
#postofficetrial

QC talking about 26 month compensation payment when the PO takes the decision to close down a PO branch.
QC goes to letter received by Alan Bates (main claimant) in which it says PO has reached agreement with NFSP on network reinvention prog...

… notes proposal that outgoing SPMRs should receive 28 months remuneration to compensate urban SPMs leaving the business.
JB can see all this
QC so says there is the agreement of the discretionary fund (26 months)
#postofficetrial

QC and then specific arrangements perhaps based on the earlier discretionary fund, but specific to the new intiatives (eg ‘network reinvention’)
JB agrees
QC says when someone resigns, you try to achieve a smooth outcome from the transfer from outgoing to incoming SPMR..?

JB agrees
[really not sure where this is going tbh]
QC talking about handover dates and how the PO can delay handover if not ready, and reasons they may not be ready is sudden departure of previous SPMR.
JB agreeing

QC now talking about Mohammad Sabir [another lead claimant] taking over his PO.
[I am sure the reason for all this will become clear]
QC PO tries to get someone to fill a vacancy on resignation
JB or they put someone forward
QC and this sometimes takes longer than 3 months...

JB yes
[There is lots of agreeing going on here.]
QC although the SPMR can give 3 months notice the reality is to pass it on to someone else they have to wait for the PO to organise a transfer date.
JB yes, you are reliant on the applicant to some degree

JB they may not put anyone forward or only do so as they resign
QC accepts
QC now raising speed at which Liz Stockdale was appointed and complaint letter by LS’s predecessory that it’s taken a minimum of 6 months to effect a changeover.

QC points out both LS predecessor and LS are keen to effect the changeover of the branch, yet the PO is dragging its heels long after LS’s predecessor has given her notice.
JB can’t comment on this specific issue but gives context that this was in Network Transformation...

… period when 7,000 branches were being changed.
QC goes back to termination clauses in contracts.
JB explains in the old days - contract advisor (CA) would terminate or reinstate.

if terminate, there would be a 10 day appeal period, that would go to a senior PO manager who had no previous involvement in the case. PO manager would go through the CA investigation to make their decision.
JB says in NTC, the facility to appeal a termination...

… was removed. Now if CA decides to terminate, that is ratified by their line manager. So there is still a two tier decision in place.
QC but the point is under an appeal process the SPM has a chance to say that the CA has got something wrong. Under NT that is removed...

JB correct
QC so it’s essential to ensure the decision is taken on as fair as possible grounds
JB the CA would have had a conversation with the SPMR as part of their investigation so it would be fair before they make the final recommendation.

QC we are now on to “Corrective Action” against SPMs failing to meet standards of performance.
Does that include balancing?
JB yes
QC and SPMs can expect reasonable help from the PO with that.
QC brings up Mr Bates’ introductory bumf re training. “tailored to individual...

… requirements”
QC unless people are trained how to do it, there’s no way of them being able to perform their job properly.
JB yep
QC talks about training - managing cash and stock, dealing with problems. These are all fair expectations from PO and to SPM.
JB accepts.

QC goes to helpline “helpline exists to provide an excellent service.. providing speedy response to all queries… and dealing with complaints in an efficient manner.”
QC reasonable?
JB yes

10 minute break, then QC will finish with Mr Breedon and I suspect we will have Angela van den Bogerd, People and Change Director of the Post Office in the witness box for the last hour of today and all day tomorrow.
#postofficetrial

Ms vdB will be the most senior Post Office employee to be cross-examined in this trial.
#postofficetrial

back after a 10 minute break. No further xe from Mr Green. Now PO QC Mr Cavender on his feet for re-examination. Asking about a transcript point.
POQC to your mind has this doc been sent by Paul Kellet?
JB not sure

JB it’s signed by him
QC would that mark between his name and the end of the letter mean anything?
JB not sure
QC would he definitely see this doc or would it be someone more junior
JB not sure.

Onto "reasons to urge" letter
PO QC is this [refers to doc] a reasons to urge letter?
JB yes
PO QC what’s it for?
JB explains

PO QC if someone said there might be an IT reason for a shortfall what would you do?
JB get the facts together and investigate
PO QC are there people in the pO who can do that
JB in my own dept the “resolution" team can do that

PO QC what if there was a persistent failure to meet standards - could you use your 3 month termination power there?
JB yes

PO QC what about this 2-tier process with NTC for termination and you were asked about the SPMs ability to interact without the oppo for appeal
PO QC what does this bit say
JB invitation to attend informal discussion
PO QC right and see this invitation to a meeting...

PO QC is this post suspension?
JB yes
PO QC and would they be able to receive representations from the SPM?
JB yes
PO QC which would ultimately have a bearing on their possible termination
JB yes

Judge - you said your support services resolution team who have skills to interrogate IT problems or just interrogate the accounts that come from the branch
JB mainly branch accounts
Judge - could they interrogate branch data and [back end] data which they could interrogate?

JB yes
Judge - so they could interrogate branch data and compare it with [back end] data from Horizon
JB they would be my first port of call
Judge why does the Post Office refer to itself without the definite article? I have been trying to find out for quite some time.

JB doesn’t know but suspects it might be a hang over from Post Office Counters, when it dropped the counters it became Post Office
PO QC stands up and says it might be a copyright. if you are The Post Office you might lose it, if you are Post Office you are protected.

Judge - that’s the first logical answer I have heard to date.

Angela van den Bogerd has been sworn in. I have been given her witness statement.
#postofficetrial

AB is People Services Director for Post Office. Angela has a blond bob and is wearing glasses in the witness box to see the screen. PO QC currently taking her through elements of her witness statement.
11,500 POs in total
7,500 companies small or large
3,300 multiple operators

Re 557 claimants how many are contracted through companies
AB can’t recall
PO QC how many operate more than one branch
AB about 80
Judge has asked AB to speak more slowly.

JFSA QC asks her prefered title
AB Angela if you can
Judge I think we’ll have Mrs Ms or Miss
AB Mrs then pls
JFSA QC you have been defending Post office’s position in matters relating to this litigation for some time.

AB not defending - looking into matters arising
AB tells court she is now Business Development director at Post Office.
QC asks about Second Sight’s contraction to get involved in complaint scheme. So SS were contracted by PO at behest of MPs.

QC and this was MPs from Labour and Conservatives
AB pretty much across the board
QC and for this mediation scheme Horizon was widely defined to essentially mean the PO’s interaction with Horizon
AB yep

QC Tell me more about your role from 2013 and the improvements you brought in
AB cheque rem out improved, and if forex tx was happening by card - before they had to printout the receipt manually, so I introduced an automatic receipt printout

Sorry this is about branch support programme which came about as a result of SS’s interim report.
QC brings up PO reply document to SS briefing report part 2 22 Sep 2014. PO has been unable to endorse the report, this doc is to correct inaccuracies to the report. Did you write...

… this?
AB I had input. I don’t think I signed it.
QC response to issue raised - no evidence exists to say that the removal of information has prejudiced any case. Would you agree with Mr Breedon that it’s hard for an SPM to defend themselves without access to information.

AB yes but they would be given the reasons for the problem when they are interviewed
QC but that’s rather one-sided. They don’t get any opportunity to investigate
AB that would depend when the issue happened. if it happened in branch they would have access to all the info on H

AB after the event, they wouldnt
QC so that would make it difficult for them to prepare for a reasons to urge meeting?
AB well it depends
QC let me postulate an eg. Let’s say someone has a £9K shortfall. They call the helpline and they’re waiting to hear back

QC they don’t get a call back, they are then suspended, and now they can’t find out.
AB that assumes it happens on the same day
QC let’s assume it did - they can’t get any info
AB no - but - if there is an audit - it is because there is something looks like its gone awry.

AB so it would be very rare.
QC but you have accepted it could happen
AB yes
QC it would be fair-minded to suggest it cause SPM prejudice in certain situations

AB it potentilly could
QC the PO terminated mediation scheme and Second Sight’s involvement
AB yes it was ended by PO
QC and PO published a final document which it saw as the end of the affair.

AB agrees
QC reads from it saying that now PO has investigated everything and cross-referenced it with existing cases thematic issues on the mediation scheme (lottery, power failures etc)
QC asks about Branch Support scheme - was it to deal with SS’s thematic issues...

AB some of it was, there were other issues
QC you felt SS hadn’t taken into account the whole universe of contractual relationships between SPMRs and Post Office
AB can I see that please
QC and another point was that you felt SS hadn’t understood relationship….

… as one of agent/principal.
AB yep
QC brings up cash and stock provided by PO - that SPMR requires no working capital at all. That’s the basis of the whole relationship. PO provides cash and stock...

… SPMR needs nothing other than their wider investments.
AB yep - we provide cash and stock
QC so when you say no investment, you’re only talking about cash and stock.
Judge asks about MRs X wanting to be an SPM. Capital outlay is getting the building and the arrangements...

… but they don’t separately need to buy cash and stock
AB yes - we provide it and that is the property of the PO.
QC that’s the expectation. PO provides working capital, PO provides assistants and a premises to use it in.
AB yes

QC let’s take the example of a TC given in error. £10000. SPM has to pay it in cash or cheque, or settle it centrally. Yes?
AB no not if it’s issued in error
Judge okay
AB it would come with evidence as to what and it would also be discussed with the SPM by the NSBC unit

QC consider an example of a TC issued incorrectly. They put money into the till to make it good and then 4 months later a correction comes down. If tha’ts a substantial sum of money, the SPM has been required to provide working capital for branch trading.
AB not if they...

… challenge it.
QC but you know corrective TCs are a thing?
AB yes
QC which means that PO have realised a TC was issued incorrectly
AB yes or raised by PO
QC and you accept that the sum put in by the SPM amounts to working capital
AB I would also say TCs can be...

… something that a SPM might be expecting.
QC but you accept that it exists
AB yes -
QC that is something that the SPM would not be expecting
AB the SPM would expect to be held accountable for any losses.
QC Do you want to go back and have a look at what you’ve just said?

QC takes her back to what she said.
I think this underlines my point that the PO does not make a distinction between losses that are and aren’t the SPMs fault.
AB demurrs
Judge asks QC to ask the quesion again

QC do you accept that the PO habitually makes no distinction between losses that SPMRs are contractually liable for an any losses?
AB if they are not at fault they would not be held liable.
QC goes to losses and gains policy in contract

sorry this is 20 nov 1998 version of a guidance doc on p24 - "from a purely contractual perspective" the SPM is responsible for all losses caused by negligence, carelessness or error or n, c, e caused by assistants.
QC why “purely”? to distinguish contract from actual practice?

AB gives her reading of it.
QC asks why in another document there is a distinction later between all losses or all losses caused by negligence or error… it’s wrong isn’t it?
AB it’s loose wording
QC goes to letters sent to Pam Stubbs we discussed earlier in this thread...

… since you are contractually obliged to make good “any losses”. It’s wrong isnt’ it?
AB yes
QC explain to his Lordship why this keeps coming up in standard documents of the PO
AB loose wording
QC you’ll collect more debt if it’s worded this way
AB I disagree - they would...

… have been aware of what their contract said, so they could have disputed it if they wanted to.
QC have a look at your last answer.
AB asks to look at Pam Stubbs letter chain.
QC takes her to agreement o put PS debt on hold, then the next letter demanding the money.

AB says a number of these letters are automatically generated so the second letter sent out in Paul Kellet’s name is sent by one of his team. He hadn’t updated the system before the second letter went out.
Judge intervenes to take AB back to QC’s q

QC asks if PO is more likely to recover debt if they don’t fully quote the full terms of their contractual liabilities.
AB no. SPM would be aware of their ability to dispute. The letter is a mistake. The wording is loose, I accept that.

Judge so you are saying it mis-states the SPMs’ responsibility wrt to their contract.
AB accepts
QC it also asks them to settle with debit or credit card. It’s purpose exists to encourage payment. I say this to you and I want you to think about your answer carefully...

… that by framing it in this manner it is designed to get the money from the individual.
AB is depends on the individual

QC let’s look at the letter chasing PS debt again the one in March. Are you still saying that after agreeing to suspend the debt pending an investigation the system has not been updated a month later.
AB yes. I know how they work. it is a mistake.

We have finished AvdB’s evidence for the day. We resume at 10.30am tomorrow. These tweets will be posted up (formatted for easier reading) on postofficetrial.com within the hour. Full write up before 9.30pm tonight.

Remember all tweets re the back and forths in the trial are paraphrases unless directly quoted.

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Thanks!

@threadreaderapp unroll pls