10,000 postcards calling for justice delivered to the Post Office inquiry

38 Degrees supporters made our presence felt at the public inquiry into the Post Office Horizon Scandal.

Following on from the 1-million-signature petition that saw ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells stripped of her CBE, together we are demanding that former sub-Postmaster Alan Bates, along with all victims of the Horizon scandal, receive the full compensation they’ve requested, and that Fujitsu be held accountable by funding the compensation and being denied future Government contracts.

To make this point we hand delivered 10,000 individually messaged post cards to the inquiry in a specially made ‘38 Degrees Delivery’ post van, on the day that Alan Bates was due to give evidence. The van was funded by hundreds and hundreds of individual donations from 38 Degrees supporters.

Postcard writers urged inquiry chair Sir Wyn Williams to do whatever he can to recommend the Government provide full compensation without further delays.

Among the messages from members of the public were:

Helen Grove-White: “Our local Post Office and village stores was a victim of this scandal so I have followed this story very closely. It is right to compensate the victims but it is essential that this does not come from the public purse. Fujitsu have a moral and legal responsibility to pay up.”

Nigel Fordham: “This is a shameful national tragedy…and there can be no avoidance or fudging of the compensation that victims justly deserve. We taxpayers are not the guilty party – Fujitsu and the Post Office must pay.”

Jenny Curtis: “These sub postmasters have endured a living hell for years. The least that Fujitsu could do is to be honourable and recompense these souls asap. The cover up that went on for so long is absolutely appalling.”

Kim Mentha: “Please give these people their dignity and respect and indeed their lives back. Pay them and their families the compensation they so rightly deserve for the upheaval and devastation this fiasco has caused them.”

Robin Priestley, Campaigns Director at 38 Degrees, said: “Back in January we saw an incredible display of people power in action, as 1.2 million of us forced Paula Vennells to hand back her CBE. That was an important first, symbolic step – now it’s time to deliver real justice. 

“These messages show the public haven’t forgotten the Horizon scandal or the innocent people whose lives were destroyed. They won’t stop fighting for justice until Fujitsu faces consequences for the part it played in this appalling miscarriage of justice, and the victims get the compensation they deserve.”

Response from the inquiry

Following on from our hand in, Sir Wyn Williams responded to our action and sent the following message to supporters:

Thank you for your email dated 10th April addressed to Sir Wyn Williams. We acknowledge receipt of the message cards delivered to Aldwych House today. He has asked me to respond on his behalf.

The Chair has noted your request. Once the Inquiry has completed its evidence gathering exercise, including hearings, the Chair will prepare a report which will be delivered to the Minister as soon as reasonably practicable. At this stage, it would be premature for him to indicate what will be included in his recommendations.