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_SeseyrnnRRMSTEIL “RANRSORNEATEAN A,
Criminal Cases Review Commission
Private and Confidential
Peters & Peters Solicitors LLP
15 Fetter Lane, Your ref: NPV/HKL/CKT/
London EC4A 1BW PO6388.1
DX 407 London Chancery Lane Our ref:
14 September 2021
Dear Sirs,
Re: Compliance with S17 notices issued by the Criminal Cases Review
Commission (‘CCRC’) to Post Office Limited (‘POL’)
Many thanks for your detailed letter to Karen Kneller, dated 3 August 2021.
Apologies for the delay in replying, but this has given us the chance to consider
the contents of your letter in detail and to discuss the CCRC’s position. Ms
Kneller has asked me to reply on behalf of the CCRC.
The CCRC recognises and is grateful for the considerable breadth of the review
which Peter & Peters has conducted on the subject of compliance with S17
notices (as described at paragraph 3 of your letter). It is clear to us that POL
has treated this matter with the seriousness which it deserves.
The contents of your letter are noted and understood in their entirety. However,
we note in particular the instances of non-compliance which are listed at
paragraph 8 and the explanations for how those instances came to occur. The
CCRC is reassured that such instances of non-compliance are unlikely to recur
in the future for the reasons which you have explained. We also note your
comment at paragraph 11 and agree that it is important that all of the issues
were rectified and had no detrimental effect on any individual.
The CCRC also notes the additional categories and repositories of material
which are set out at paragraph 9, and that you very fairly recognise that those
materials should not have waited for the PCDE before being identified, reviewed
and disclosed.
In relation to paragraph 16 of your letter, we are grateful for your explanation
regarding current and future compliance with S17 notices. More generally, the
CCRC is reassured from your letter that POL has taken steps to ensure
compliance with S17 notices going forward, as requested in Karen Kneller’s
letter of 23 February 2021.
CCRC, 23 Stephenson Street, Birmingham, B2 4BH DX: 715466 Birmingham 41
iw: www.ccrc.gov.uk
twitter: @ccrcupdate Instagram: the_ccrc
Independently investigating miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
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In connection with paragraphs 18-21 of your letter, those matters are noted and
on the face of it the CCRC is not minded to disagree with the approach you
suggest, provided that you remain confident that your current searches will pick
up all material relating to the convictions of the individuals named in S17
notices. However, we would be grateful if we could check our understanding of
the matters you raise at paragraphs 18-21 by way of a more detailed
discussion. I will leave my CCRC colleagues Miles Trent and Anona Bisping to
pick up those points with you.
Finally, I would like to thank you again for the time which you have invested in
looking into the CCRC’s concerns regarding S17 compliance. The CCRC has
taken reassurance from your letter, and we consider that we are now ina
position to move forward in a positive spirit and with a good level of co-
operation.
Yours sincerely,
Amanda Pearce
Casework Operations Director