Search results

I'm probably a bit more lenient about the tech support 'experts' They had a log of incidents and known faults. The level 1 and 2 support teams didn't seem to use the known faults info sensibly. Telling people they were the only ones who have reported certain faults is hard to understand because...

Fujitsu noticed anomalies in the data retrieval and didn't initially disclose the issue to PO. They also filtered the raw data to make it more manageable to retrieve but didn't make that clear to Fujitsu people signing witness statements, or the PO who seemed to implicitly believe the system and...

Govt and PO will be hoping that quashed convictions and cash compensation will be enough to sweep it under the carpet.

Possibly a Public Sector malaise. I'm guessing too that it was ICL staff involved before Fujitsu took them over. ICL was the brainchild of Tony Benn under a Harold Wilson govt in 1968. They dominated IT technology and IT services in the public sector for decades. Initially a success but...

There's been plenty of coverage over the years. Computer Weekly were onto early doors. BBC journalist too, then Panorama. Just didn't get the traction, exposure and reaction it needed in the early years of it coming to light. The current inquiry is streamed live on YouTube and has all the...

Good point but they've all had plenty of documentaries and dramas. Unfortunately, some stuff only appeals to a limited audience. The PO scandal has a far wider appeal.

I think the term 'Investigators' is used loosely by the PO. AIUI they were financially incentivised to recover missing funds. They were not there to find the root cause of the discrepancies. Sounds like the all different areas worked in silos. As you suggest they will no doubt claim ignorance...

Patterson's weasel words probably had to be checked by the firm's lawyers. There must be an opportunity for criminal charges against Fujitsu for perjury or PCoJ. Both him and the current PO CEO stonewalled most of the MPs questions today, saying they hope the truth comes out in the official...

All well and and good expecting enforcement of the law and stopping illegal drugs trade but there's way too many people trying to dismantle the police. They seem to be succeeding. Criminals know the chances of being caught are slim and getting slimmer. How long before we slip into complete...

Since 2017 we've had a problem property in our quiet residential street. Unlicensed HMO, Anti-social behaviour, then a weed farm. Absent owner using a rogue letting agent under investigation by several London boroughs Suspected weed farm (had all the classic signs) reported by myself and next...

Found this podcast series interesting. The great Post Office Trial

As I understand it perjury is lying under oath and that will apply to those who were witnesses in the court cases. Perhaps lying about the robustness of the system or remote access. Perverting the course of justice (PCOJ) will apply to those who brought the cases to court in the knowledge that...

Police don't decide who to prosecute. I've never come across the police going after software companies for supplying rubbish software. Had the CPS been involved I suspect many cases would have been thrown out. What would the charge Fujitsu with? Only PCOJ if they have lied about known software...

It's going to be interesting to see how they bring criminal charges against those who knew the prosecutions were unfounded. There must be various PO staff who could be charged with PCOJ Maybe any Fujitsu staff who declared the system was 'robust'. There's probably a breach of contract between...

A problem with the PO being able to prosecute their own cases. Had they gone through CPS I suspect the threshold for evidence would be higher and most cases thrown out. Starmer on TV this morning said they only dealt with three cases and have yet to find out which ones they are. Only just got...

The Horizon system provided data that uncovered the alleged crimes. Impossible to find in the old paper system without a full, costly audit. Unfortunately they believed what the system told them. If your job is to root out fraud you'll want to believe the data and less likely to question it...

Very hard to fight a legal case against a massive organisation with 'unlimited resources'. Plus they had all the evidence under their control. Maybe the prosecutors knew the evidence for theft was flimsy hence they were quick to offer a lighter sentence for a guilty plea to false accounting...

The James Christie blog is really useful and saves me reading the 300+ page inquiry report! No software is bug free. You try to iron out as many bugs as possible during various testing phases but it's inevitable that errors come to light after you've gone live. What's important is how you...

Rubber ain't what it used to be. Ask any classic car restorer.

Got done for 35 in a 30 mph. First time I've been caught in 48 years. The 30+10%+2 is just a guideline defined ACPO (as they were called) They can issues tickets at 31mph if the want. However I guess they prefer slam dunk prosecutions. The main advantage of the speed awareness is the...