Been looking forward to this. Katrina Watt (sp.?) is addressing the Post Office Horizon Inquiry on behalf of the National Federation of Subpostmaster. Live-tweeting follows, but you can watch it here:
#PostOfficeInquiry
#PostOfficeInquiry
KW calls the evidence at the Human Impact sessions "shocking".
NFSP urges PO and govt to make interim payments of compensation without delays. Hopes all that were wrongfully prosecuted and dismissed will have their...
NFSP urges PO and govt to make interim payments of compensation without delays. Hopes all that were wrongfully prosecuted and dismissed will have their...
... reputation restored. Also wants all compensation inc consequential losses.
Says being a core participant at the inquiry allows it to participate in a way that the NFSP couldn't in Bates v PO
Says being a core participant at the inquiry allows it to participate in a way that the NFSP couldn't in Bates v PO
Says NFSP was not invited to give evidence in that case despite being commented on by Justice Fraser in his judgment.
[Read what he said about the NFSP here postofficetrial.com/2019/04/common…]
[Read what he said about the NFSP here postofficetrial.com/2019/04/common…]
[it's damning]
KW is going to say more on that later.
KW refers to an FOI I made which apparently says only 56% of those convicted were Postmasters - the rest were either SPM assistants or PO branch employees
KW is going to say more on that later.
KW refers to an FOI I made which apparently says only 56% of those convicted were Postmasters - the rest were either SPM assistants or PO branch employees
KW only SPMs can be members of the NFSP - given how many non-members were prosecuted demonstrates that this mess went wider than the NFSP.
KW notes SPMs are self-employed - not employees of the PO. Therefore it's incorrect to say the NFSP was on the side of the employer (ie the PO).
KW says NFSP CEO Calum Greenhow wondered when he appeared before the inquiry last year he wondered if any execs involved in Bates v PO at the PO should remain in their role.
KW wants to set out relationship between the PO and the NFSP. Says NFSP is independent of the PO [this assertion directly contradicts Mr Justice Fraser's findings in 2019]
KW says it has represented many member over the years, but if the NFSP has not given adequate help to some members over the year it is regrettable. NFSP were not operating with the knowledge of PO and Fujitsu. If it had the info, with hindsight things might have been different.
The NFSP sincerely regrets its faith in the PO, Fujitsu and the justice system was so misplaced.
The NFSP is an independent non-for-profit professional trade association. Established in 1897 by 90 SPMs on Easter Monday to try to help better the lot of poor Subpostmastesr. got official recognition in 1906.
Early years saw estbalishment of an annual conference....
Early years saw estbalishment of an annual conference....
... and a newspaper called The Subpostmaster.
Today NFSP has 26 employees. Negotiates rates of pay and conditions of service. Participating in consultation and resolving individual disputes.
Today NFSP has 26 employees. Negotiates rates of pay and conditions of service. Participating in consultation and resolving individual disputes.
Until jan 2014 the NFSP was a union, but was removed when the certificating officer decided it did not actually meet requirements to be a union. in 2015 the NFSP negotiated a 15 year grant framework agreement to be funded by the PO.
In Oct 2016, the NFSP became a trade association following a membership vote. NFSP is not beholden to the PO it is independent, but it has been misrepresented by the PO [tho it didn't correct the PO at the time, weirdly]
KW turns to Fraser's damning comments in his judgment.
KW says In 2021 [it was 2019] fraser considered the evidence of Mr Beale from the PO that the "NFSP did not support the litigation... no evidence was offered for that"
KW says In 2021 [it was 2019] fraser considered the evidence of Mr Beale from the PO that the "NFSP did not support the litigation... no evidence was offered for that"
KW says in his judgment apparently on the basis of Beale's evidence ruled the NFSP was "not remotely independent of the PO" and then went on to focus on the grant funding agreement [which contractually bound the NFSP from doing anything against the PO's interests]
KW within the litigation itself and what was or wasn't provided to Mr Justice Fraser he was concerned by the failure of the PO to make the GFA available in full to the court and changes made to hte NFSP's website during the trial, finding this to be suspicious as the PO could...
... or did not explain why.
KW the NFSP were not party to any of this. The PO has no control or say in the NFSP website. All thaht had happened was the NFSP's comms officer was updating the website...
KW the NFSP were not party to any of this. The PO has no control or say in the NFSP website. All thaht had happened was the NFSP's comms officer was updating the website...
... as to "tone of voice, colour and locaiton of content" and it had been decided that the GFA should be moved from one section or another
[the PO and the NFSP fought tooth and nail well before the court litigation to keep the GFA secret - ask @CWUPostmaster who dug it out]
[the PO and the NFSP fought tooth and nail well before the court litigation to keep the GFA secret - ask @CWUPostmaster who dug it out]
@CWUPostmaster The NFSP was entirely unaware this was a live issue in the litigation. The NFSP was not a party to or called to give evidence. No opportunity to correct the record about the GFA or the PO's misrepresentation of its position.
KW says 80% of prosecutions carried out between 1999 and 2010 and a further 20% between 2010 and 2015 - before the NFSP became funded by the PO.
There was no evidence produced by the PO to demonstrate its take on the NFSP's position during the litigation.
There was no evidence produced by the PO to demonstrate its take on the NFSP's position during the litigation.
NFSP is very worried about the reputational damage done to it by the PO during the litigation and will seek to correct it during the inquiry.
That said it fully supports Mr Justice Fraser's judgment. it is concerned about the PO's represnetation of the NFSP to the court.
Re Horizon - when it was coming there were changes going on - lack of footfall and changes to the way people did business. Branch closures came about
Re Horizon - when it was coming there were changes going on - lack of footfall and changes to the way people did business. Branch closures came about
through three schemes:
2003 Network Reinvention
2007 Network Change
2012 Network Transformation
Horizon predates this and the NFSP supported it as securing future of the PO in the digital age.
2003 Network Reinvention
2007 Network Change
2012 Network Transformation
Horizon predates this and the NFSP supported it as securing future of the PO in the digital age.
The current NFSP notes how many prominent MPs from the last 25 yrs of British politics who were involved in the procurement of H and wants the inquiry to establish who and how they were responsible for so many of its members suffered.
Note from Mark re NFSP's apparent inability to affect Bates v Post Office:
https://twitter.com/CWUPostmaster/status/1580578415283167232
In Feb 1996 the NFSP negotiating committee (the Fed's inner sanctum) met three companies bidding to win the Horizon contract and asked questions.
NFSP did not express a preference on which statement should be chosen and was not technically equipped to do so, but was obviously keen to ensure it would work for its members.
In May 1999 the NFSP was made aware the DSS was thinking about pulling out of the project.
In the light of all that has been said there were doubts and difficulties about Horizon from the start.
In the light of all that has been said there were doubts and difficulties about Horizon from the start.
In april 1999 a mix of crown and branch offices had a trial rollout of Horizon. On 29 April 1999 the first ever Horizon balance was done - some were supported doing their balance, some were not. Of those that WERE supported 47 completed their accounts, but 23 did not. NFSP...
... raised concerns about how useable H was and the training provided.
NFSP demands better training - says it's too rushed and there are three helplines when there should be one.
KW calls up a briefing note from Fujitsu to NFSP pointing out there are balancing and printing problems and they take them very serious. KW shows that its points its getting from its members are being put to F about H and they are being taken seriously.
I have a meeting scheduled for 1630 - KW was due to finish then. She's still going - you can watch her here:
I'll be at the Inquiry tomorrow, powered by crowdfunding - do please contribute if you can:
postofficescandal.uk/donate/
postofficescandal.uk/donate/
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