A draft report has revealed that Post Office management was aware of faults in its Horizon IT system before pursuing legal actions against sub-postmasters, including the case against Alan Bates. The report, conducted by Deloitte in March 2016 and dubbed Bramble, highlighted that despite being aware that system errors or remote tampering could be responsible for data discrepancies, legal battles were still pursued against branch workers. These actions have come under scrutiny amidst investigations into the scandal, particularly after revelations from a secretly recorded 2013 meeting showed top executives, including then-chief executive Paula Vennells, were informed that the Horizon systems could be accessed remotely, contesting earlier claims of their invulnerability.

In light of these findings, there have been renewed calls for accountability and transparency from the Post Office. A spokesperson for the Post Office stated their commitment to supporting the ongoing public inquiry into the matter, aimed at ensuring justice for the past injustices committed against hundreds of sub-postmasters. These individuals suffered wrongful convictions, financial ruin, and in some cases, profound personal tragedy due to discrepancies flagged by the faulty Horizon system.

Additionally, covert recordings from 2013 featuring discussions among Post Office executives about the Horizon system’s issues have led to demands for a police investigation. These recordings, which include conversations between company secretary Alwen Lyons and chief lawyer Susan Crichton, are cited as the first evidence that the Post Office was aware of the system’s faults well before the wrongful convictions in 2015. The Metropolitan Police has been approached for comments as the inquiry into the scandal continues, with many seeking justice for the sub-postmasters affected by the Horizon IT debacle.