ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office about the subpostmasters scandal has no mention of ex-Royal Mail chief Adam Crozier, who just so happened to go on to head... ITV

[POSTMAN]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... ozier.html

When ITV decided to make a drama out of the Post Office scandal, it described it as one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British legal history.

Yet in telling the story of the hundreds of subpostmasters wrongly prosecuted for theft by the Post Office, ITV seems to have left out a key character – Adam Crozier, the head of Royal Mail Group who just happened to later become the broadcaster's chief executive.

Mr Crozier was CEO of Royal Mail Group between 2003 and 2010, when the Post Office was part of it and subpostmasters were being pursued through the courts despite their insistence that it was the organisation's computer system, Horizon, that was at fault.

In Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Toby Jones takes the lead role of campaigner Alan Bates and Lia Williams plays Paula Vennells, chief executive of Post Office Ltd between 2012 and 2019. But there is no part listed for Mr Crozier.

He left the Royal Mail in 2010 to become chief executive of ITV and a director of ITV Studios, the production company behind Mr Bates vs The Post Office.

During his seven years at ITV, its share price quadrupled, with Mr Crozier reducing the broadcaster's reliance on advertising revenue by building up its production arm.

Earlier this month it was stated in the Commons that the public inquiry into the Horizon scandal and various court cases had heard that, as of August this year, at least 60 subpostmasters had died without seeing justice or receiving compensation, and at least four had taken their own lives.

Mr Crozier was called for by name to attend the inquiry last year by former employees whose lives had been destroyed by the unfounded accusations.

Chris Trousdale, who was diagnosed with PTSD after dealing with Post Office investigators, told a hearing: 'When I was prosecuted, Adam Crozier was the chief executive. I think he should be here answering questions, as well as all the other heads of the Post Office. I don't think there is anyone who should be allowed to get away with this.'

He added: 'Bosses were paid bonuses based on performance. Victims' money [paid to balance shortfalls] in my opinion was going into the pockets of those that had persecuted them.'

ITV said: 'Mr Bates vs The Post Office tells the story of the Post Office scandal from the perspective of a select group of former subpostmasters who formed the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, led by Alan Bates.

Alan's campaign for justice only began to make headway when Paula Vennells was promoted to chief executive, so that's the relationship we dramatise.'

[guardianangel]

None of them will be held accountable and the innocent will never get fully compensated thats just how this country works its more rotten than Russia but they will have you all believe this is the fairest country on earth.

[NWpostie]

Watched the first part of the tv series, very good acting and I'm not suprised Crozier isn't in the series.

They should sue for maximum compensation, if neccessary get bailiffs in, they'll be very busy at Post Office ltd HQ sequestering assets and accounts to pay the money back.

An important step is to remove all powers of investigation and prosecution from PO investgation department..

[nutcracker]

None of them will be held accountable and the innocent will never get fully compensated thats just how this country works its more rotten than Russia but they will have you all believe this is the fairest country on earth.

Yep we’re definitely better at hiding corruption….not sure of the word for the British version, it’s an unspoken you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.

Corporates never face jail time, even in a case like this where it’s quite clear there’s been gross negligence.

Nepotism is rife and income inequality has risen massively over my lifetime.

And the horrible thing is that these issues are worse in other countries.

[guardianangel]

None of them will be held accountable and the innocent will never get fully compensated thats just how this country works its more rotten than Russia but they will have you all believe this is the fairest country on earth.

Yep we’re definitely better at hiding corruption….not sure of the word for the British version, it’s an unspoken you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.

Corporates never face jail time, even in a case like this where it’s quite clear there’s been gross negligence.

Nepotism is rife and income inequality has risen massively over my lifetime.

And the horrible thing is that these issues are worse in other countries.

And sadly our country is following close behind,our unions have been infiltrated by politicians and capitalists and sadly until the younger generation say enough is enough we are going down the path of other countries quicker than we think.

[wallan]

The problems highlighted with the system must have been encountered by PO Employes at Crown Post Offices , also Staff in Post Offices operated by the likes of W H Smith

[Tman]

Despite all the usual hyperbole about corruption, nepotism and "we're worse than other countries" "no we're not etc etc" the biggest scandal is that Paula Vennells still walks free.

[NWpostie]

The problems highlighted with the system must have been encountered by PO Employes at Crown Post Offices , also Staff in Post Offices operated by the likes of W H Smith

Crown offices and big chains absorb the losses by creative accouting or simply writing it off, POL is getting free money from phantom losses.

Individual Sub Postmasters don't have that kind of money or the accounting creativity savvy to do so, they're the ones that get prosecuted in order to cover up the system failures by telling them that they're the only one with the problem.

Crown offices is in house and gets away with it, big chains have big lawyers, so the POID go for the low hanging fruit.

*Alan Bates is quite an exeptional individual in that he is very meticulous with his accounting and has the personality to stand up to bullies.

**He fully deserves the MBE and it's a shame he didn't accept as he could have used it to raise the profile of the campaign, whereas Vennils is totally shameless in hanging on to her CBE.

[baldrick]

The problems highlighted with the system must have been encountered by PO Employes at Crown Post Offices , also Staff in Post Offices operated by the likes of W H Smith

I expect there were. I remember the entire staff of 12 people at one London Crown Office being accused of theft and sacked.
At one franchised Post Office I worked at as an OPG, a staff member was accused of being £200 down on her balance and told she would have to repay it. She replied 'B******s to this' and walked out.
I would think there were more cases like that which never came to light because they were smaller amounts and involved employees who were sacked or just left and couldn't be bothered to fight the accusations.

[NWpostie]

I'm suprised at the entire Crown office staff being sacked, did this made the news or was it brushed under the carpet ?

The Crown staff and smaller counter staff could have a case of unfair dismissal against POL.

[enskied]

I personally find it difficult to believe that somewhere, someone in government was not aware of these issues. It was pre privatisation, Some MP's were standing besides their Postmasters and asking questions. At this point Horizon was Royal Mail and we know how sparing the company is with truth.

A Royal Commission should be held in to the whole business and take into account the Privatisation of RM and separation of the post office.

[enskied]

I personally find it difficult to believe that somewhere, someone in government was not aware of these issues. It was pre privatisation, Some MP's were standing besides their Postmasters and asking questions. At this point Horizon was Royal Mail and we know how sparing the company is with truth.

A Royal Commission should be held in to the whole business and take into account the Privatisation of RM and separation of the post office.

[Tman]

I'm suprised at the entire Crown office staff being sacked, did this made the news or was it brushed under the carpet ?
The Crown staff and smaller counter staff could have a case of unfair dismissal against POL.

Yep, BS of the first order.

[postareale]

While Adam Crozier didn't appear in the ITV drama Mr. Bates vs The Post Office, it is more critical and essential that he make an appearance before Sir Wyn Williams under oath at the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry. Then, right after he gives his testimony, the next witness in the dock should be Alan Leighton, who was Chairman of the Board of Directors during Crozier's stint as CEO. Before its separation from Royal Mail, the Post Office Limited was essentially a branch of Royal Mail. As such, the MD of the Post Office reported to the CEO of Royal Mail. The Board of Directors of Royal was de facto the oversight, risk management and governance arm of the Post Office Ltd. (POL).

Here is the list of former CEOs and Chairmen of the Board of Directors of Royal Mail, when it was the parent company of the Post Office, who should also testify before the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry:]

Royal Mail:
Former Chairmen::

• Allan Leighton (2002–2008)
  Sir Donald Brydon (2009-2015)

Former Chief Executives::

• John Roberts (2000–2003)
  Adam Crozier (2003–2010)
  Dame Moya Greene (2010–2018)

Post Office Limited:

Chair

• Alice Perkins (2011–2015)
  Tim Parker (2015–2022)

Chief executives

• David Mills (2002–2005)
  Alan Cook (2006–2010)
  David Smith (2010–2011)
  Paula Vennells (2012–2019)

Finally, based on her portrayal in Mr. Bates vs The Post Office, it was evident that Paula Vennells, the reviled Post Office CEO, had Angela Van Den Bogerd, her ethically challenged HR head, do all the dirty cover-up work on the Horizon dossier. It is essential that Van Den Bogerd and her HR executive predecessors during Paula Vennells' full tenure as POL CEO also appear before the inquiry to get to the bottom of things.

Chief HR Executives:

• Angela Van Den Bogerd, People & Change Director (2017–2018)
  Neil Hayward, Group People Director (2014 - 2017)
  Pauline Holroyd, Group HR Director, (2012 - 2013)
  Debbie Moore, HR Director (2007 - 2011)

These former senior executives must be held accountable for the POL investigations and prosecutions under their watch.

[baldrick]

I'm suprised at the entire Crown office staff being sacked, did this made the news or was it brushed under the carpet ?

The Crown staff and smaller counter staff could have a case of unfair dismissal against POL.

It was over 20 years ago and my memory is getting hazy. I think it was in North London, possibly Wood Green. There was a campaign to get them re-instated. I did have a commemorative mug from the campaign. I didn't take as much notice as I would have if it had been postal workers.
I think the CWU did take it to an industrial tribunal and those who wanted to return were re-instated, but reallocated to different offices.
But by the time the tribunal took place, which would have been at least nine months later, most if not all would probably have found new jobs.