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From: Elliot Jacobs (1)[/O=EXCHANGELABS/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP
(FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=5F 1089F532374E92A9910D8CC2A0D942-
ELLIOT JACO]
Sent: Sat 10/02/2024 1:21:56 PM (UTC)
To: Karen McEwan[karen ; Amanda Burton o
(1)[amanda.burton1 (ef wen Woodley[Owen.Woodley@:_
Read[Nick.Read1@ jenjamin Tidswell[benjamin.tidswelli@
GRO
Saf ismail (1)[saf.ismailT1@
Andrew Darfoor (1 Jandrew-warroort
Brian Gaunt (1)[brian.gaunt1@}__
Simon Jeffreys
(1)[simon., votftoystaee Lorna.Gratton@, jLoma.Gratton@
Ce: Chris Brocklesby[chris.brocklesby@ _
Subject: Re: Confidential: Project Phoenix and NFSP ‘Announcement
In case it would seem that I’m implying due process and rigour should not be applied, for the avoidance of
doubt, I am not saying that.
I do not deny the importance of that- we know this organisation has failed horrifically in doing that before!
I does however seem odd that not a single one is suspended whilst this is ongoing? Why is that? We seem to
suspend people on a regular basis when investigations are ongoing? Why not on this matter?
And is redeploying really the only solution? How does this fix the culture challenge we have here?
I think further board discussion and ongoing update on this is vital.
Elliot
Sent from Outlook for iOS
From: Karen McEwan <karen.mcewan@
Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2024 12:31:54
To: Amanda Burton (1) <amanda.burton1@
Elliot
<brian.gaunt1@
<simon.jeffreys1@ atton
Ce: Chris Brocklesby <chri -brocklesby@_ ~_ GRO }
Subject: RE: Confidential: Project Phoenix and NFSP Announcement
Thanks Amanda
We have Nic Marriott, Angela Woolfenden and Janene Mellor all supporting Chris (on Phoenix) and Sarah Gray’s team
(past roles). They are three of our most capable members of the People team, with significant ER experience. This is
our highest priority and is, as you point out, very complex and time consuming.
K
Karen McEwan
Group Chief People Officer
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People Team
From: Amanda Burton (1) <amanda.burton1@ GRO
Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2024 11:31 AM .
To: Owen Woodley <Owen.Woodley@
Read <Nick.Read1@\.
<saf.ismail1
“h Elliot Jacobs (1) <elliot.jacobs1@
enjamin Tidswell <benjamin.tidswell1@
Gaunt (1) <brian.gaunt1@!_
imon Jeffreys (1) <simon.jeffreys1@
‘Lorna. Gratton@,
Ce: Karen McEwan <karen. mcewan@ GRO}; Chris Brocklesby <chris.brocklesby@
Subject: Re: Confidential: Project Phoenix and NFSP Announcement
Many thanks Owen for the update. This is clearly a very difficult situation and I can see why this work is taking such a
long time and we have to follow proper process. Amanda
Sent from Outlook for iOS
From: Owen Woodley <Owen.Woodley@ _
Sent: Friday, February 9, 2024 1:3:
To: Elliot Jacobs (1) <e elliot. acobs1@
<benjamin.tids
; Nick Read <Nick.Read1.
Saf ismail (1) <saf.ismail1@
; Benjamin Tidswell
n Gaunt (1)
Andrew Darfoor (1)
!>; Chris Brocklesby <chris.brocklesby ce
Subject: RE: Confidential: Project Phoenix and NFSP Announcement
Here is an update from the business, Elliot and Board...
As a reminder, we have two separate programmes of activity underway which Karen is overseeing for us.
One is ‘Project Phoenix’ and the other is ‘Past Roles’. These programmes are doing separate activities
overseen by separate panels to determine appropriate action. The panels are not decision making fora on
individual employment cases. Any actions required on individuals on the back of panel recommendation
are then managed separately as part of a relevant employment process.
Project Phoenix is a review of all historical investigations where allegations have been made by
Postmasters of wrongdoing on the part of Post Office and/or Post Office employees (both current and past)
as part of the Public Inquiry Human Impact Hearings. Chris represents SEG on the Phoenix panel and I am
sure he would confirm that he and the panel fully grasp the importance of what they are dealing with.
Past Roles is a review of any current employee who may previously have undertaken a role in the past -
between 1999 and 2017 - related to the subject of the Public Inquiry. This is to ensure that they create no
conflict and pose no risk to either the integrity and independence of work being done now, or to
Postmaster/public confidence in that work.
On Phoenix, six current employees fall within scope, linked to twenty allegations. Of those, fourteen relate
to one specific employee (‘X’). Conclusions have now been reached on two of the six employees, both of
which resulted in no further action. Employee X is now being investigated on misconduct charges. It looks
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unlikely that the other three individuals will move to misconduct investigations but the position is not yet
concluded.
The current view of the team is that on the basis of wide-ranging evidence reviewed so far, and the
extensive systemic and process failures which it is now apparent were in place at the time of the
allegations, dismissal is unlikely to be the outcome. But since you are likely to have particular interest in
Employee X, here is a bit more detail. The allegations include :-
1. Inappropriate transportation of a disabled Postmaster in a goods lift
2. Calling a Postmaster a ‘bitch’ during an interview
3. Accusing a Postmaster in Northern Ireland of using stolen funds to support paramilitary activity
4. Aggressive and accusatory behaviour during interviews
Significant investigations have already been done on the evidence available and so far, the allegations
have not been corroborated. Indeed in some instances, the investigation has seen evidence contrary to the
allegations. However, relevant Postmasters are now being interviewed, subject to availability, to gather
additional evidence and this case is expected to conclude by the end of March.
On Past Roles, 127 employees are in scope with 35 employed in the Remediation Unit and the remaining
92 spread across other functions in the business. For obvious reasons, the individuals still working in the
RU have been prioritised for review.
We can confirm that no employee is in a position as a decision maker on cases that they were directly
involved in historically. However, four RU employees have been identified as being in positions that at least
carry a theoretical risk of undermining confidence. All four cases have now been reviewed and the
individuals recommended for redeployment. That redeployment process is now underway.
All these cases, especially on Phoenix, are enormously complicated with formal investigations that have to
gather evidence across many years, and involve real human beings to whom we have a duty of care as the
employer. In some instances, the investigations involve taking testimony from Postmasters and
unsurprisingly, some of those Postmaster meetings are taking weeks or even months to get arranged. So
you can be assured you that we are moving as fast as we can here.
I have no recollection of you asking for an update before the next Board meeting. Perhaps we missed that,
but I’m sure Karen would be happy for you to give her a call between Board meetings if needed.
Irrespective, a paper is already being drafted for February Board which Karen will present, giving more
detail and an update on all the above.
Owen
Owen Woodley
Deputy CEO
3" Floor,
100 Wood Street
London, EC2V 7ER
owen.woodievé GRO
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From: Elliot Jacobs (1) <elliot.jacobs1@
Sent: Friday, February 9,20248:56 AM
To: Nick Read <Nick.Read1@ >; Benjamin Tidswell <benjamin tidswell1@ GRO. >; Saf ismail
Brian Gaunt (1) <brian.gaunti@
; Andrew Darfoor (1) <andrew.darfoor1@.
Lorna.Grattong GRO
Amanda Burton (1)
>; Simon Jeffreys (1)
(1) <saf.ismail1@
<amanda.burton1¢ GRO
<simon.jeffreys1@,.. oe
Cc: Owen Woodley <Owen.Woodley@ GRO
Subject: Confidential: Project Phoenix and NFSP Announcement
Importance: High
Dear Board,
Following on from our meeting almost 2 weeks ago where I expressed in the strongest of terms my frustration and
utter disbelief that the matter of Project Phoenix was still nowhere near resolved I am concerned we have not
received any update on the activity since.
This is important and urgent, and it seems to me that the committee currently undertaking the review has failed to
grasp the importance of the matter and the speed with which it should be working. I don't doubt activity may well be
on-going, but the pace and decision making is simply not appropriate to the task, and neither is the level of feedback
to us as a Board. We are the ones who will be blamed for this not being properly resolved....it is happening on our
watch - not a past Board, our Board.
The claim that this is "difficult" will simply not cut it. If it was easy someone might have done it by now; but it is the
fact that it is hard that we must grasp the nettle and get it done. It is both optically and morally wrong that this has
not be dealt with before. This is not a "witch hunt" (as it has been verbalised previously) - this is about making certain
the culture and frankly the future of this business is not mired in the wrong-doing of bad people who did truly awful
things some of whom - to this very day - believe they did the right thing!
We were told the committee was due to meet last week, but I am not aware of any outcome from that meeting - I
would be grateful of an update on that meeting and the decisions that came from it - I do not believe we can wait
until the next Board to find out what actions (or not) have taken place....or wait to read them on the Sky News
website or the front page of the Daily Mail!
Additionally, I attach a copy of a link to the NFSP press release yesterday - we risk getting behind the curve again here
too.
https://nfsp.org.uk/news/view?name=nfsp-statement-on-why-an-oversight-committee-is-the-right-way-ahead-for-
the-post-office-network
Sincerely,
Elliot