Fact-based drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office retells events related to The British Post Office scandal, which has rightly been called one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history.
The series tells the stories of some of the sub-postmasters who were wrongly accused of theft and fraud by Post Office management. In truth, it was an error within the Horizon accounting system rolled out by the Post Office that created cash shortfalls at certain Post Office branches.
One of the central figures in Mr Bates vs The Post Office is Paula Vennells, who is played by Lia Williams in the programme.
Who is Paula Vennells?
Paula Vennells was the chief executive officer of Post Office Limited between 2012 and 2019. She previously worked for such companies as L’Oreal, Dixons Stores Group, Argos and Whitbread Plc.
Paula joined the Post Office in 2007. After she was appointed CEO in 2012, she became a key player in the Post Office scandal which had been ongoing since 1999.
What did Paula Vennells do?
Between 1999 and 2015, the Post Office sought to prosecute hundreds of sub-postmasters and mistresses on charges of theft and fraud at their Post Office branches.
As it turned out, these Post Office employees were innocent. The shortfall in their accounts was due to the Horizon computer systems, which incorrectly calculated daily takings.
Vennells became CEO during the final 3 years of the Post Office scandal. In 2013, she hired forensic accounting firm Second Sight to investigate the Horizon software losses. When investigator Ron Warmington concluded the software was faulty, Vennells was unhappy with his findings and terminated the contract with Second Sight.
During her leadership, the Post Office fought lengthy legal battles against some of the sub-postmasters. Vennells insisted Horizon was robust but secret recordings have since emerged which suggest Vennells was aware of the faults within Horizon.
What happened to Paula Vennells?
After leaving her role as CEO in 2019, Vennells was given a CBE for her services to the Post Office and to charity. However, she handed back her CBE in 2024 after a public outcry regarding her involvement in the Post Office scandal.
After returning the CBE, Vennells said:
“I am truly sorry for the devastation caused to the sub-postmasters and their families, whose lives were torn apart by being wrongly accused and wrongly prosecuted as a result of the Horizon system.”
At the time of writing, Vennells is facing fresh questions at a public inquiry about her involvement in the scandal.
Read More: What happened to Angela van den Bogerd?
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