POL00333601
POL00333601
Public Prosecution Service
elfast and Eastern Region
22 October 2019 Our Ref: POLTD/1819/0031
Your Ref: 988883,
Dear Sirs
Re: Andrea Gourley
Case Ref: 988883
We refer to the letter dated 19 September 2019 from Bernard Campbell & Co, Ms Gourley's solicitors, in
which a number of questions were raised. We have set these out and answered them below, but have
also used this letter as an opportunity to update you in relation to Horizon generally.
Post Office Group Litigation - Horizon
We therefore firstly provide you with an update in relation to the Post Office Group Litigation, a civil case
proceeding in the High Court of Justice (Queen's Bench Division) in London. This is litigation brought by
555 current and former postmasters, and a small number of others, under a Group Litigation Order. The
Managing Judge, the Honourable Mr Justice Fraser, is making findings on a number of issues in a series
of trials.
The litigation originated with concerns raised by Claimants around Horizon and whether it was, or is, fit
for purpose. Horizon is an IT system comprising an electronic point of sale and accounting system for all
of Post Office's branches. Horizon was introduced in 1999/2000. In around 2010 the original system
(known as "Legacy Horizon") was replaced by "Horizon Online" which continues to be used today. The
Claimants contend that they have suffered from unexplained losses and, in some cases, been
prosecuted and imprisoned, because of what they assert to be causes attributable to Horizon, which they
allege is a flawed hardware / software system.
The first trial in the Group Litigation, referred to as the Common Issues Trial, took place in November-
December 2018 and examined contractual issues including implication of terms, using the cases of 6
Lead Claimants. Judgment was handed down following this trial on 15 March 2019 ([2019] EWHC 606
(QB)].
The second trial was the Horizon Issues Trial, (March-July 2019), which examined a number of issues.
relating to Horizon. The issues considered at the Horizon Issues Trial can be summarised as being in
relation to: bugs, errors and defects in Horizon; controls and measures for preventing/fixing bugs and
developing the system; remote access; availability of information and report writing; access to and/or
editing of transactions and branch accounts. Judgment is currently awaited following this second trial.
A third trial, referred to as the Further Issues Trial, will deal with the appropriate measure of loss in the
cases of 4 Lead Claimants (being 4 of the same 6 Lead Claimants identified for the Common Issues
Trial), The Further Issues Trial is listed for March 2020.
There may be further trials in the future although no such trials have yet been listed.
We are currently awaiting Judgment following the Horizon Issues Trial and will update you once
Judgment is received. However, as mentioned in our previous letter we would ask that any Post Office
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related cases continue to be referred to Mark Raymond in order that he may review them and determine
whether Post Office may have any relevant information which may assist the CPS/PPS.
Questions from Ms Gourley's solicitors
The responses to the questions raised by Ms Gourley’s solicitors specifically are as follows:
1. What IT system was used by the Post Office at the time of the alleged criminal acts between 1
April 2018 and 31 July 2018?
There are a number of IT systems that are used by Post Office Limited including, for example,
Microsoft Office and CFS (Central Finance System). There is also a distinction between systems
used by (i) Post Office Limited within its head and other offices, and (ii) systems used by
Postmasters within Post Office branches. When you refer to "IT system" in this question, taken
together with your other questions, we presume you are asking about the electronic point of sale
system that is used in Post Office branches, which we confirm is known as Horizon.
Horizon was introduced in 1999/2000. In around 2010 the original system (known as "Legacy
Horizon") was replaced by "Horizon Online" which continues to be used today.
Therefore, in answer to which system was used between 1 April 2018 and 31 July 2018, we confirm
that Horizon Online was being used by Post Office between 1 April 2018 and 31 July 2018 and
Horizon Online was also used in the Pond Park branch between 1 April 2018 and 31 July 2018.
2. Can you please confirm that this system is still in use by Post Office?
We can confirm that Horizon Online is still in use by Post Office.
3. Can you confirm if the system used by the Post Office is the same system called Horizon and if
so which version is being used?
Horizon Online has been used since 2010 and continues to be in use to this day. The system is
regularly updated like all IT systems and so different versions are in use at different points in time.
HNG-A is currently the hardware version in use with Horizon Online and the Pond Park branch
updated from HNG-X hardware to HNG-A hardware on 22 August 2017.
Please let us know if you need further information.
Yours faithfully
° Simon I Hutchinson
NI Security & Investigations Manager
Brent House, 15 Heron Road,
Belfast, BT3 OLE.
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