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From: "
To: Kathrvn Alexander
< Ri
, Shirley Hailstones
Ce: "Parsons, Andrew" <_
Subject: Horizon Defence - Investigations for Defence [BD-4A.FID26896945]
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2017 09:02:55 +0000
Importance: Normal
Inline-Images: image70a924.JPG; image775e7e.PNG; image6e7b5f.PNG; imageaba44c.PNG
Hi Kath, Shirley
In preparation for drafting the defence, there are a number of matters which we need to investigate further and it has
been recommended that you would be the best people to start with.
Real Loss
One of the matters which we need to investigate is whether there is any type of accounting error which could produce
a shortfall in the branch accounts but would not cause a real loss to Post Office. The Claimants claim that the
shortfalls did not represent a real loss to Post Office.
For example — the postmaster incorrectly enters a transaction into Horizon which causes a shortfall in the branch
accounts. However, there is no financial consequence / loss suffered by Post Office as result of this shortfall.
We do not think that this is possible since:
1. if the shortfall is caused by Post Office stock or cash going missing then there is clearly a loss to Post Office;
and
2. in the case where the shortfall is caused by third party products (such as the sale of lottery tickets), Post
Office is required to pay the third party (i.e. Camelot) and if Post Office does not recover these sums from the
postmaster, then there is a loss to Post Office.
Suspended postmasters access to information
One of the claims is that Post Office failed to make available transactional information to allow the Claimants to detect
and resolve errors. This includes that postmasters who were suspended were not able to access Horizon and are
denied access to personal records held at the branch.
We would like to understand what information would be either accessible by or made available to postmasters during
their suspension so as to allow them to investigate shortfalls. It may be that this is a question for the CA team.
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What was the pre-Horizon accounting system?
We are looking to understand how the introduction of Horizon in 2000:
changed the way in which Claimants worked in their branches;
limited the access which Claimants had to their accounts/transaction records; and
limited the ability to investigate shortfalls.
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It would be helpful to get a general overview of these areas, is there a convenient time for a call (1 hour) either this
week or next week?
Kind regards
Amy
Amy Prime
Solicitor
Bond Dickinson LLP
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