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POST
OFFICE
POST OFFICE LIMITED
CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT AND
PROSECUTION POLICY
AIMS/ OBJECTIVES
The aim of this policy is to:
e Ensure a fair and consistent approach to criminal enforcement decisions by Post Office
Limited ("POL") nationally (UK and Northern Ireland)
e Provide POL investigating officers and legal decision makers with guidelines to enable them to
reach enforcement decisions in line with government guidance/ standards
e Inform the public and businesses of principles applied by POL which guide enforcement
decisions
The objectives of the POL investigations and criminal prosecutions team are to:
e Maintain the integrity and viability of POL services provided to the local community which
could otherwise be directly affected or compromised by criminal acts
e Actas a deterrent to theft from POL
e Recover money and assets stolen from POL
e Ensure the safety and security of staff and customers
INTRODUCTION
POL provides a vital national service. Through the provision of around 11,800 post office branches
around the UK and Northern Ireland, POL gives local communities access to postal, banking and other
important everyday utilities.
The function of POL is to provide affordable and reliable services to the public through its retail
operation. POL is mindful that criminal acts against its business (in particular theft, fraud and false
accounting) result in increased costs to the taxpayer, impact on its customers and challenges to the
viability of services.
POL seeks to reduce criminal acts against its business by:
« Providing advice and education to its employees and sub postmasters
e Fully investigating reported concerns
e Taking action (including criminal or civil enforcement and disciplinary action) in appropriate
instances
POL investigation and legal teams will liaise with the police and other relevant regulatory authorities,
as appropriate, to provide a consistent and coordinated approach to criminal investigation and
enforcement and follow POL's Internal Protocol for Criminal Investigation and Enforcement.
The following government guidance/ standards are formally adopted by POL:
¢ The Code for Crown Prosecutors
¢ The Government's Concordat of Good Enforcement
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PRINCIPLES OF ENFORCEMENT
Enforcement will be carried out using four guiding principles:
Our actions will be proportionate to the circumstances
Our approach will be fair and consistent
Our actions will be transparent
Our enforcement will be focused on where it is needed most
We will have regard to the Human Rights Act 1998 ("HRA"), the Regulation of Investigatory Powers
Act 2000 ("RIPA"), the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 ("PACE") and its codes of practice and
the Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act 1996 ("CPIA").
Proportionality means relating enforcement action to the actual offence. Action taken by POL should
be proportionate to any impact on the community or environment, either directly or indirectly.
We will:
e Take account of the circumstances and attitude of the individual or business investigated
when considering action
e Work with employees and sub postmasters so that they can meet their legal obligations
without unnecessary expense
e Consider the extent of breach or harm caused as a result of the offence
Fairness and Consistency of approach does not mean uniformity. It means taking a similar and
objective approach in similar circumstances to achieve similar ends but taking into account the
particular circumstances of each case. Security Managers investigating matters and legal decision
makers will need to take account of many variables — the extent of the offence, the attitude of the
individual or business and the history of any previous offending. The consistency and rationale behind
decisions on enforcement action is ensured through internal POL procedures including legal advice
and sign off.
We will:
e Promote fairness and consistency through information and training to Security Managers and
legal decision makers
« Monitor enforcement decisions made and any rationale/ reasoning behind decisions
Transparency means ensuring that employees, members of the public and other affected parties
(including sub postmasters) are aware, through training, contractual documents and operation
manuals what is expected of them and what they should expect from POL. Employees and sub
postmasters are aware through contractual documents and operation manuals of the powers of POL
investigating officers and what is expected of them, including the importance of maintaining integrity of
the service provided and proper accounting to POL.
We will:
e Make this procedure and other relevant operational documentation available on request
e Provide information and advice in plain language
Focused means ensuring that any criminal investigation or enforcement is focused on individuals or
businesses whose behaviour gives rise to the most serious risks associated with offending. Serious
does not just mean where large sums of money are stolen or significant harm is done but extends to
include wider risks of repeat behaviour and encompasses situations where enforcement will be
required to act as a deterrent to others. Investigations will be particularly focused on those in positions
of trust and relevant factors considered when implementing a criminal investigation will include
complaints from the public, employees or others (such as POL auditors), alleged seriousness of the
actual offending and previous history of offending.
We will focus on:
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« Those whose alleged offending affects the elderly and vulnerable
e Individuals or businesses whose offending results in significant loss or harm to POL or the
community
e Individuals or businesses whose offending is committed over a long period
ENFORCEMENT OPTIONS
Whilst POL only has the criminal enforcement option of Prosecution (and consideration of confiscation
proceedings), it will also consider other actions available to Line Managers, Contracts Managers and
Civil Recoveries teams. All decisions and actions will be recorded and considered in the event of a
future investigation of the same individual or business and may well impact on a future decision to
take criminal enforcement action
The application of options available to POL will depend on the impact on the integrity of POL and the
services it provides to the community, risks to people or to the environment, the past history and
attitude of the offender, the consequences of non compliance and the likely effectiveness of various
enforcement options.
In particular, we will consider:
The seriousness of any offence and extent of harm
Duration of the offence
The suspect's age, physical and mental condition
Any voluntary disclosure or confession made by the suspect
Previous convictions or evidence of offending
Any breach of trust
Other social factors
Any delays in an enforcement decision being reached
Reference should be made to POL's Internal Protocol for Criminal Investigation and Enforcement for
further detail on procedure followed before an enforcement decision is reached.
ACTIONS AVAILABLE OUTSIDE OF CRIMINAL PROCESS:
These actions to be considered by Line Management/ Contracts Managers and Civil Recoveries Team
in liaison with investigations by POL's Investigations and Security team.
Informal Action will usually take the form of letters or reports sent to the offender in the case of a
minor offence but can also include verbal warnings. Informal action should be acted upon by the
individual or business and in the event they fail to do so, this can result in criminal enforcement action
being taken.
Examples of when informal action might be appropriate include circumstances where:
An early admission of guilt (in the case of a minor offence) is made
The offence is not deemed serious enough to warrant criminal enforcement action
Action taken by the offender to repay or make amends for criminal act
The past history of the individual or business suggests that informal action will deter future
offending
Disciplinary Proceedings of POL employees may be deemed necessary by POL Management in
accordance with POL policies and employment contracts and considered alongside investigations by
the Security and Investigations team and criminal or civil enforcement action.
Civil Proceedings will be considered where the seriousness of the offence or the attitude of the
offender means that POL does not consider formal action is required either to act as a deterrent or a
punishment for criminal behaviour. Civil proceedings can be taken alongside or in place of criminal
enforcement action and can be used to vary/ terminate a contract, recover monies stolen from POL or
as financial compensation for other wrongdoing. Where civil proceedings are undertaken in addition
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to formal criminal action, POL will not seek to recover twice.
CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT:
The following options are available after an investigation by POL which warrants further action (see
below and POL Internal Protocol for Criminal Investigation and Enforcement).
Prosecution will be brought where the circumstances warrant it and where the alternative
enforcement options are considered to be inappropriate. Any decision to prosecute will take account
of the criteria set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
There must be:
e Evidence of guilt sufficient to give a realistic prospect of success in criminal proceedings, and
e Aprosecution must be deemed in the public interest.
Where there is a realistic prospect of conviction and formal action is in the public interest,
circumstances which warrant a prosecution may include:
Where the alleged offence has resulted in significant losses or impact on POL and the public
Where the alleged offence involved a flagrant or intentional breach of the law
Where there is a history of similar offences
Where the offender has refused to accept wrongdoing despite significant evidence to the
contrary
« Where the offender has failed to repay or make amends for any significant wrongdoing
POL will consider the following circumstances when deciding whether or not to prosecute in addition to
those above:
e The seriousness and effect of the offence
« The deterrent effect of a prosecution on the offender and others
e Any mitigating factors
The decision to proceed with a prosecution will be taken by the Head of Security of POL, upon legal
advice.
Confiscation Proceedings will only be undertaken by POL where prosecution has been deemed
appropriate, assets have been identified that can be used to service such an order (or there is a
reasonable belief that such assets exist), and such an order is deemed to be in the public interest.
POL will:
e Obtain a Restraint Order where, following an interview under caution, a recommendation to
prosecute is made by the Security Manager, evidence is available that a suspect has
benefited financially from a crime, assets have been identified as available, there is a concern
that without the order assets will be dissipated and there is a lack of a credible offer by a
suspect to pay monies back voluntarily.
In the event that monies can be obtained voluntarily, monies are recovered via a compensation order
in criminal proceedings or via a civil recovery then a restraint order/ confiscation proceedings will be
cancelled/ terminated.
In determining whether or not confiscation proceedings are appropriate (including the obtaining of
restraint orders), POL will consider:
e The seriousness of the offence and financial loss incurred (generally financial losses will be
more than £15,000)
« Whether other factors such as an abuse of trust or vulnerability of victim merit proceedings in
cases where losses are less than £15,000
e Avoluntary repayment has made or credibly offered by the date of conviction
e Other recovery proceedings have been deemed more appropriate in the circumstances
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e Other mitigation or explanation provided by the defendant which is deemed relevant
APPEALS AND COMPLAINTS
If a business or individual is dissatisfied with the action being taken or the way in which an
investigation is handled, they should ask to discuss these concerns initially with the investigating
officer's manager. If they remain dissatisfied with the way in which the matter is being progressed
POL's complaints procedure should be followed.
Legal proceedings will not normally be suspended whilst a complaint is investigated.
This is without prejudice to any formal appeals mechanism.
ADHERENCE WITH THE POLICY
Investigating officers and legal decision makers must abide with this Enforcement and Prosecution
Policy when making all criminal enforcement decisions.
Any departure from the policy must be exceptional, capable of justification and be fully considered by
the Head of Security (likely in conjunction with Head of Legal) before a decision is taken, unless it is
considered that there is sufficient risk in delaying the decision, under which circumstances the
investigating officer must take the most appropriate course of action, as they see fit.
AUTHORISATION
Specific competency levels for investigating officers involved in the decision making process (other
than prosecution which must be approved by the Head of Security ) will be ensured.
OBSTRUCTION OF INVESTIGATING OFFICERS
POL regards the obstruction of or assaults (physical and/ or verbal) on POL staff whilst lawfully
carrying out their duties as a serious matter.
Instances of the above will be referred to the legal department of POL with a view to instigating a full
investigation and legal proceedings against the perpetrator.
REVIEW
This Policy will be reviewed periodically at such intervals as is considered appropriate.
Date of Policy Implementation:
Date for Review of this Policy:
Formal approval of policy by:
Signed Name