An investigation has revealed that former Post Office boss Paula Vennells was informed as early as 2013 about issues with the Horizon IT system, including the capability for remote access and alteration of sub-postmasters' accounts by a covert operations team at Fujitsu. Despite being warned that denying these problems was 'dangerous' and 'stupid,' Vennells' alleged inaction has been described as 'jaw-droppingly shocking.' This has led to a significant outcry among former sub-postmasters, many of whom were wrongly prosecuted and are now 'devastated.' Exclusive reports and secret recordings obtained by various news outlets, including ITV News and Channel 4 News, have brought to light the extent of Vennells' knowledge of the system's flaws, described as 'final proof.' The revelations have sparked calls for legal action against Vennells, with some suggesting she should face charges, possible contempt of Parliament, or even imprisonment for her role in the scandal. Comments from figures like Varchas Patel and Lord Ed Vaizey have labeled Vennells as 'utterly negligent' and suggested she be 'tried in a court of law.'
Lord Ed Vaizey says Paula Vennells was an “utterly negligent” Post Office CEO, amid reports that she may have known of account altering two years before appearing in Parliament. @edvaizey | @iancollinsuk | @WhichPennySmith | @estherk_k https://t.co/VTQWeht3Gi
Varchas Patel, whose father was a wrongly prosecuted sub-postmaster, says Paula Vennells should be “tried in a court of law” amid reports that she may have known of account altering two years before appearing in Parliament. @daisymcandrew https://t.co/ttVF8pZMrR
'Should ex post office boss Paula Vennells face charges?' In the latest quick-briefing episode, Investigations Editor @DanielHewittITV tells @lucrezianews what you need to know... https://t.co/BpiJtBRVV4
Disgraced former Post Office chief Paula Vennells warned of possible contempt of Parliament on Horizon scandal https://t.co/3SuO2ObIX0
She needs to go to prison! Paula Vennells ‘knew #PostOffice accounts could be altered in 2013’ two years before she told MPs it was not possible. https://t.co/trSTumNjRg
Paula Vennells was briefed by senior Post Office officials about a “covert operations team” at Fujitsu’s Bracknell headquarters that could remotely alter subpostmasters’ accounts, new evidence suggests ⬇️ https://t.co/v2ZvV3tZer
Shamed Post Office boss Paula Vennells knew there was a 'covert operations team' at Fujitsu that could alter subpostmasters' accounts remotely, newly unearthed bombshell recordings reveal https://t.co/kc0krGUUdL https://t.co/d1hnKD4e2i
Krishnan Guru-Murthy, "Secret recordings obtained by #C4News shows that the Post Office boss Paula Vennells was briefed about allegations of a covert operations team that could remotely alter sub postmasters accounts from Fujitsu's HQ without them knowing.. That was in 2013"… https://t.co/CekjU2AgZ1
Secret recording 'final proof' former Post Office boss Paula Vennells knew about Horizon issues | @DanielHewittITV reports https://t.co/h0JwWWOfQX
Exc: Paula Vennells was told by investigators in 2013 she’d be ‘ill -advised’ to do anything other than paint the clearest possible picture of problems with its IT system. Her only response was to ask why James Arbuthnot MP was on their case. Listen here: https://t.co/peaNVWe94r
“Paula Vennells was made aware Fujitsu could access Postmasters’ accounts remotely.” Big scoop on @Channel4News I repeat, when do the arrests start? @metpoliceuk
Secret tape suggests Post Office boss Paula Vennells was told accounts could be altered in 2013 https://t.co/haTgdMIJdz
EXCLUSIVE: More secret tapes prove Post Office boss was briefed on 'covert operations team' that could access subpostmaster accounts remotely. https://t.co/T4NgONVUl0
'Devastated': Former sub-postmasters react to secret Paula Vennells audio obtained by ITV News https://t.co/lDAQPC0qrc
'Devastated': Former sub-postmasters react to secret Paula Vennells audio obtained by ITV News https://t.co/hCO8AKwpLm We await formal charges.
Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells was told of problems with the Horizon IT system in 2013 and was warned that denying them was “dangerous” and “stupid,” a new investigation has claimed @k_petrakos reports https://t.co/roSJBITLeC
'Devastated': Former sub-postmasters react to secret Paula Vennells meeting exclusively obtained by @itvnews https://t.co/0ph8qIJsc5
Even after everything we’ve learned about how the Post Office wrongly prosecuted sub-postmasters, this @DanielHewittITV exclusive on when the Post Office boss Paula Vennells was first told Horizon work stations could be remotely accessed is jaw-droppingly shocking https://t.co/iLvGUxsIrB