- The independent Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry will be given
more powers and converted into a statutory inquiry on 1 June
- Inquiry will now have the power to compel witnesses and
demand evidence, with fines or imprisonment for non-compliance
- Move follows landmark Court of Appeal judgment that saw 39
postmasters’ convictions overturned
The Government has strengthened its independent inquiry into the
Post Office Horizon IT dispute, putting it on a statutory footing
to ensure it can establish the truth about what happened.
The move will give the Inquiry new powers to compel witnesses and
demand documentary evidence. Parties who fail to comply with the
new inquiry or take actions to hinder it could face a fine,
imprisonment, or both. The Inquiry’s Terms of Reference will also
be changed to clarify that it can investigate the Post Office’s
decision-making in pursuing prosecutions of postmasters.
The decision was taken by the Secretary of State for Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy, and Minister for Postal Affairs , in light
of the recent Court of Appeal judgment which saw 39 postmasters
have their convictions quashed.
The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry was initially established in
September 2020 on a non-statutory basis to enable the Chairman,
retired High Court judge Sir Wyn Williams, to work quickly in
establishing a clear account of the implementation and failings
of the Horizon IT computer system over its lifetime.
The Inquiry’s overarching aims – to ensure the right lessons have
been learnt and to establish what must change – will remain in
place. However, in light of the Court of Appeal judgment, its
Terms of Reference will be updated to reflect this judgment and
the need for an in-depth analysis of the events that led to the
Horizon scandal. These issues went beyond those already
considered by Justice Fraser in his 2019 ruling, which was the
basis for the current inquiry.
This decision follows engagement with postmasters by the Prime
Minister and Postal Affairs Minister to determine the best option
to understand where mistakes were made and ensure something like
this does not happen again. It is also supported by Sir Wyn
Williams, who will continue as Chair for the Inquiry’s next
phase, building on the current Inquiry. The next phase will begin
from 1 June.
Prime Minister said:
“We must stand with postmasters to get to the bottom of what went
wrong in the Post Office Horizon IT dispute. I heard first-hand
the irreparable impact it has had on their lives.
“That’s why, in light of the recent Court of Appeal judgment,
we’re stepping up our independent inquiry by putting it on a
statutory footing, so we can get the answers they deserve.”
Postal Affairs Minister
said:
“The Horizon dispute has wrecked the lives of postmasters and
their families – its impact cannot be overstated.
“We are determined to ensure something like this can never happen
again, which is why we launched this Inquiry last year to bring
the failings around Horizon into the light.
“Sir Wyn and I are both of the view that the context for the
Inquiry has changed in light of the Court of Appeal’s judgment
and that now is the right moment to convert the Inquiry to a
statutory footing.
“While the Inquiry has already made significant progress, these
extra powers will ensure the Inquiry has access to all the
information it needs to establish the truth.”
The change to the Inquiry means it will have an extended
timeframe to allow for a thorough Inquiry and analysis of the
decision-making processes that led to the Horizon dispute, with
its final report now expected in Autumn 2022, rather than Summer
2021. However, Sir Wyn will provide a progress update this
Summer, to set out the Inquiry’s progress to date and any initial
findings. Public hearings that had been planned for June will be
temporarily delayed while the Inquiry is repositioned to meet the
new terms of reference and establishes itself as a statutory
Inquiry in line with the requirements of the Inquiries Act 2005.
The Inquiry will provide more information on its proposed
approach shortly.
Notes to Editors
- Section 35 of the Inquiries Act 2005 provides sanctions in
the event of non-compliance with an inquiry or actions that are
likely to hinder it. These sanctions are imprisonment, a fine or
both. Non-compliance is a summary offence which in England and
Wales is dealt with by magistrates.
