Audit Reveals Post Office Chair Was Warned of IT Risks in 2011

Wednesday, 5 June 2024, 15:10

The audit report revealed that Alice Perkins, the former Post Office chair, was warned of significant IT risks related to the Horizon system back in 2011. Despite being informed by auditors about the risks, the Post Office proceeded with prosecuting sub-postmasters. This revelation sheds light on the early awareness of the IT challenges within the Post Office management, raising concerns about the handling of the Horizon system's issues.

https://store.livarava.com/445b789f-234e-11ef-a40c-9d5fa15a64d8.jpg — Audit Reveals Post Office Chair Was Warned of IT Risks in 2011

Ex-Post Office Chair Alerted of IT Risks

Audit reports confirmed that Alice Perkins, the former Post Office chair, was made aware of the substantial risks associated with the Horizon system's functionality as early as 2011. The auditors explicitly mentioned that Horizon posed 'a real risk' to the institution and its stakeholders.

Prosecution Despite Risk Assessment

Despite receiving the warning about IT vulnerabilities, the Post Office continued its legal actions against sub-postmasters, thereby risking the livelihoods of those operating under the Horizon system.

Early Warnings Ignored: The alerts from auditors regarding the critical IT risks were not heeded, leading to legal consequences for innocent sub-postmasters.
Management Oversight: The issue raises questions about the management's handling of crucial IT risk assessments within the Post Office.

This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.