Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells to hand back her CBE with immediate effect after fallout from IT scandal

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells has announced that she will be handing back her CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) with immediate effect. This decision comes as a result of the fallout from the IT scandal that plagued the Post Office and resulted in hundreds of sub-postmasters being wrongly accused of fraud.

The IT scandal, which has been described as one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in UK legal history, saw sub-postmasters being wrongly accused of financial discrepancies due to faults in the Post Office’s Horizon computer system. Many of these sub-postmasters faced severe financial difficulties, bankruptcy, and even imprisonment as a result of the false accusations.

Paula Vennells, who was the CEO of the Post Office from 2012 to 2019, has faced criticism for her handling of the IT scandal. Despite being aware of the issues with the Horizon system, Vennells maintained the Post Office’s position that the system was robust and trustworthy. This has led to accusations of a cover-up and a failure to take responsibility for the injustices suffered by the sub-postmasters.

In a statement, Vennells said, “I am deeply sorry for the suffering that has been caused to the sub-postmasters affected by the Horizon scandal. As the CEO at the time, I accept my share of responsibility for the failures in the Post Office’s response to the issue. Handing back my CBE is a symbolic gesture to demonstrate my recognition of the seriousness of the situation and my commitment to accountability.”

The decision to hand back her CBE has been met with mixed reactions. Some have praised Vennells for taking responsibility and acknowledging the harm caused by the IT scandal. Others, however, have criticized the move as merely a symbolic gesture that does not go far enough in addressing the systemic issues within the Post Office.

The fallout from the IT scandal has led to significant changes within the Post Office. In December 2020, the Post Office reached a settlement of £57.75 million with 550 sub-postmasters who were affected by the Horizon system. Additionally, in April 2021, the Court of Appeal quashed the convictions of 39 sub-postmasters, further highlighting the wrongful nature of the accusations.

Despite these developments, there are calls for further action to ensure that such injustices do not occur again. The Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, which has been instrumental in advocating for the affected sub-postmasters, is calling for a public inquiry into the Horizon scandal. They argue that a thorough investigation is necessary to fully understand the extent of the wrongdoing and to hold those responsible to account.

As the fallout from the IT scandal continues, the Post Office is under pressure to rebuild trust and restore its reputation. The handback of Paula Vennells’ CBE is just one step in this process, but it serves as a reminder of the need for transparency, accountability, and justice for the sub-postmasters who have been affected by this devastating scandal.

Follow live updates on the fallout from the Post Office IT scandal here.

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Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells to hand back her CBE with immediate effect after fallout from IT scandal

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