POL00057026
POL00057026
Royal Mail Group
CONFIDENTIAL
Witness Statement “
Criminal Justice Act 1967, Section 9: Magistrates Court Act 1980, sub section. 5A(3){a) and 5B; Criminal Procedure Rules 2005, Rule 27.1
Statement of: Nigel ALLEN
Age if under 18: Over 18 (if over 18 insert ‘over 18’)
This statement (consisting of 2 pages each signed by me) is true to the best of my knowledge and belief and
I make it knowing that, if it is tendered in evidence, I shall be liable to prosecution if I have wilfully stated in it
anything which I know to be false or do not believe true.
Dated the 22 dayof September 2011
Signature
I am the person named above and have been employed by the Post Office for approximately 26 years. I am
currently employed as a Contracts Manager based in Wimborne, Dorset. Although over recent years my job
title has changed I have been involved in dealing with Subpostmaster contractual issues since September
2001.
I am responsible for a number of Sub Post Office Branches (SPOB) within the Post Office network. The area
that I cover can change from time to time, although on 30 March 2011 the Sub Post Offices that I was
responsible for included those in the Portsrnouth (PO) postcode area, which thus included the Rowlands Castle
branch, postcode PO? 6BW. On that date I was contacted by Mr Adam Shaw, Field Support Advisor who
advised me of the result of an audit he was conducting at that branch. In view of the unexplained deficit
identified I precautionary suspended Mrs Lynette Hutchings’ contract for services as postmaster at that branch.
On 14 April 2011 I wrote to Mrs Hutchings advising her of my decision to summarily terminate her contract as
postmaster at Rowlands Castle SPOB. I had previously written to Mrs Hutchings on 06 April 2011 inviting her
to attend an interview on 13 April 2011 but I did not receive any response. I now produce a copy of the letter
dated 14 April 2011, which cites the grounds for the termination, as item NA/1.
As postmaster, Mrs Hutchings was responsible for the general day to day running of the office. All postmasters
on appointment are bound by a contract with Post Office Ltd. I now produce copies of sections 1, 12 and 15 of
that contract as item NA/2.
From business records I can see that Mrs Hutchings was appointed as postmaster of Rowlands Castle Post
Signature GRO i Signature witnessed by
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