MP wants inquiry over treatment of sub-post masters

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An MP has called for a judicial inquiry into the Post Office amid claims that glitches in its computer system led to sub-post masters being wrongly prosecuted.

Andrew Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire, led a debate on the issue on the floor of the House of Commons last week.

It is claimed more than 150 sub-post masters could have been falsely prosecuted, some even jailed, due to issues with the Horizon Accounting Software system.

Mr Bridgen believes the Post Office is unfit to carry out the necessary investigation and that only a full judicial inquiry is needed.

During the debate, the MP said: "The fact that Post Office Ltd believes that honest, decent, hard-working people losing their homes, their businesses, their savings, their reputation and, worst of all, in some cases their liberty, can be quantified as a 'lifestyle change' only serves to show that the organisation is not fit to conduct an inquiry into the matter."

The issue was brought to the MP's attention by former Ibstock sub-post master Michael Rudkin, who claims errors in the system cost him his business and career.

Mr Rudkin, 75, and wife Susan, 60, said they were wrongly pursued by the Post Office over £44,000 bosses claimed was missing from the shop.

He denies wrongdoing but was forced to repay the money. His wife, meanwhile, who ran the branch, was prosecuted and given a suspended jail term.

Mr Bridgen is backing The Justice for Sub Postmasters Alliance in campaigning for issues to be properly investigated, and is part of a cross- party working group of MPs urging the Post Office to take action. He called this week's adjournment debate in Parliament to raise concerns with ministers.

In the debate, he said: "When we look at the cross-section of members who have raised the matter, many of whom have served at the highest levels of Government, and who all believe that their constituents have been wronged, how can the Post Office believe that it can continue to sweep the matter under the carpet?

"It is my belief, and the view of many members across the House, that the matter must now be taken away from the Post Office and a judicial inquiry set up.

"The Post Office has abused its privileged position and sought to cover up its failings by way of a wholly non-transparent approach to the mediation process."

In response to the MP, George Freeman, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Life Sciences, said: "The points made tonight in the House merit investigation.

"I will happily convene a meeting in the Department to put those specific points to Post Office Ltd."

However, he would not agree to a judicial inquiry.

The Parliamentary debate followed a leaked report revealing the Post Office failed to investigate properly why money had gone missing from branches before launching court proceedings against sub-postmasters.

The Post Office asked forensic accountants Second Sight to investigate the Horizon IT system in 2012, following complaints from dozens of sub-postmasters who said they had been wrongly accused of theft, fraud and false accounting when cash shortfalls were discovered.

A leaked copy of the accountants' report in April suggested the discrepancies could have been caused by computer failures, cyber criminals or human error.

The Government, however, say there is currently no evidence that the Horizon system is flawed.

Speaking after the debate, Mr Bridgen said: "I remain disappointed that the Minister would not agree at this time for a judicial inquiry.

"However, he has offered to meet with the interested parties and I believe as more evidence begins to emerge, the need for an independent inquiry will become more difficult to reject."