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From: Sophie Bialaszewskil/O=MMS/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP
(FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=SOPHIE BIALAS2CEDC720-E52F-453B-B67E-
81536EC8DF7E049]
Sent: Tue 18/03/2014 3:07:23 PM (UTC)
To: :Belinda Crowe}
Subject: FW: Briefing Paper for Paula
Attachment: Paula Briefing MP Meeting 24th March V6.docx
Attachment: Media QA Initial Complaint Review and Mediation Scheme 17 03 2014 V6.doc
Attachment: Prosecutions Policy Reactive Briefing 13.03.2014 V3.docx
Hi David — this is what went out (I did have you on the copy lost ©)
The questions included are as follows:
Will you comment on the Second Sight review / report? / Have you seen the Second Sight review/report?
Post Office can confirm that Second Sight has sent a draft of their first case review report to the Working Group
overseeing the Scheme. As a member of the Working Group Post Office has received a copy of the report. It is not
appropriate for us to comment on individual cases as the process is confidential and we wish to respect the privacy of
the subpostmasters involved
Why is it taking so long to resolve subpostmaster issues?
The Working Group needs to balance the need to progress cases through the scheme with pace with the need to be
thorough. The Post Office is a member of the Working Group as is Second Sight, JFSA and the Chair of the Working
Group is Sir Anthony Hooper. We are working with all members of the Working Group to progress cases as quickly as
possible.
How might cases be resolved?
The Post Office is committed to addressing the concerns raised by subpostmasters. Post Office is keeping an open
mind to all possibilities for resolution and mediation enables the parties to explore any type of settlement which
reflects the parties’ realistic positions.
Only if pressed on Compensation add: Compensation is one possible solution that could be agreed by the parties.
However, this will depend on what happened in each individual case. Post Office is keeping an open mind to all
possibilities for resolution.
Will all cases go to mediation?
The Scheme was established to help resolve the concerns raised by some subpostmasters. If cases do not go to
mediation the parties may still try to resoles their disputed outside of the Scheme [if pushed....including bringing a
claim through the courts].
What happens if there is no agreed outcome at the end of meditation?
The Scheme was established to help resolve the concerns raised by some subpostmasters. If cases do not go to
mediation the parties may still try to resoles their disputed outside of the Scheme [if pushed....including bringing a
claim through the courts].
How does the Post Office decide whether to prosecute?
The Post Office treats all suspected cases of possible criminal conduct very seriously, and will consider each case on
the facts of the individual case. In deciding whether a case should proceed to criminal prosecution the Post Office
must be satisfied that it meets the two stages of the test set out in The Code for Crown Prosecutors. The first is
whether there is sufficient evidence to justify a prosecution and the second is whether the prosecution would be in
the public interest. A criminal prosecution will only be pursued by the Post Office if both stages are satisfied in the
specific circumstances of the individual case.
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Have you changed your approach to prosecutions?/I’ve heard you’ve changed them as a result of the investigation
into the Horizon system?
As a responsible business we fed in to our review of our approach to prosecution the issues raised about prosecutions
by some stakeholders. We have taken a number of steps as a business to ensure that we get the balance right in the
way we work with all our people - so we are also improving processes, training and support for subpostmasters, for
instance, and providing more forums to hear the views of all those working in the business
You dropped a number of cases recently. Why is this?
As is prudent we continue to review the facts and circumstances of individual cases to ensure they continue to satisfy
the Code’s test. If at any time we consider that the ‘test’ is no longer met we will not proceed with the case — this is
something that we have always done and, indeed required to do.
Are criminal cases in the Scheme being handled differently?
The scheme was open to current and former subpostmasters and those that have been prosecuted. We have adopted
a consistent approach to all cases. It is not appropriate for us to comment on individual cases as the process is
confidential and we wish to respect the privacy of the subpostmasters involved
Sophie Bialaszewski I Public Affairs Manager
@e
i) 148 Old Street, London, EC1V 9HQ
" postoffice.co.uk
®
& @postofficenews
a
From: Sophie Bialaszewski
Sent: 17 March 2014 16:02
To: Mark R Davies
Ce: Jane Hill; Ruth X Barker; Simon E Burton
Subject: Briefing Paper for Paula
Hi Mark — please find attached docs and note below for Paula and Alice. Please do have one last read through before
you send off.
Thanks, Sophie
To: Paula and Alice
CC: Martin Edwards, Belinda Crowe, David Oliver, Chris Aujard, Angela Van Den Bogerd
Dear Paula and Alice,
In preparation for your meeting on the 19" March please find attached a draft briefing for the James Arbuthnot and
MP meeting on the 24" March (this has been reviewed by Belinda, David, Rodric and Angela has reviewed her
section).
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We are in contact with James’ office, once we know the names of attendees we will also include a short summary of
the MPs engagement with the Post Office in the last year (including correspondence into Paula).
We have included the most relevant Q&As in the briefing paper.
Best wishes
Mark
Sophie Bialaszewski I Public Affairs Manager
@ 148 Old Street, London, EC1V 9HQ
=
cy postoffice.co.uk
® @
ostofficenews