Post Office Lawyer Admits 'Bunker Mentality' in Handling Horizon IT Scandal

During a public inquiry, a senior Post Office lawyer acknowledged a defensive stance against media scrutiny over the faulty Horizon IT system, which led to wrongful prosecutions of sub-postmasters.

Rodric Williams, a senior lawyer at the Post Office, testified about a 'bunker mentality' among staff towards press inquiries regarding the Horizon IT system.
The Horizon IT system inaccurately reported financial shortfalls, resulting in the wrongful conviction of hundreds of sub-postmasters for theft and false accounting.
Williams admitted to dismissing concerns from sub-postmasters about the system's flaws, suggesting they either use the system or leave.
External lawyers advised the Post Office to suppress key documents during litigation with branch owner-operators, aiming to delay disclosure.
The government has initiated an independent review of another Post Office IT system following revelations from the ongoing inquiry.