Previous employer responded to 2009 Computer Weekly expose by informing a coworker that ‘subbies with their hands in the till’ were blaming innovation for their own theft
The Post Office’s handling director at the time Horizon system issues ended up being public informed a senior coworker that he thought subpostmasters implicated of theft were attempting to blame the IT for their own actions.
Alan Cook, who was handling director of the Post Office when Computer system Weekly exposed the scandal in 2009was offering proof today in the general public questions.
An e-mail revealed to the questions exposed that, in reaction to the Computer Weekly short article, Cook informed the head of PR at then parent business Royal Mail, “My impulses inform that, throughout an economic crisis, subbies with their hands in the till select to blame innovation when they are discovered to be except money.”
When that e-mail was put to him by questions attorneys, Cook stated: “That’s an expression I will regret for the rest of my life. It was an improper thing to put in an e-mail and not in line with my view of subpostmasters.”
Throughout today’s hearing, Cook likewise declared lack of knowledge of the Post Office’s prosecution powers. He was consistently challenged over his understanding of the organisation’s power to start and finish prosecutions itself. He rejected he understood this, declaring his analysis was that other authorities such as the authorities or the Crown Prosecution Service would make last prosecution choices.
Sam Stein, KC, representing scandal victims, implicated Cook of lying about his understanding of Post Office prosecution powers in his witness declaration.
Edward Henry, KC, likewise representing previous subpostmasters, asked Cook if he was accountable for the wrongful convictions of subpostmasters. Prepare acknowledged he had responsibility which it had actually taken place on his watch.
This is not the very first time proof has actually emerged of the low regard in which subpostmasters were held by Post Office executives and the absence of rely on them.
In a December 2023 hearing it was exposed that previous
