Mr Bates Vs The Post Office ITV

bodhrandude

Watched this last night, nice to see ITV still producing great drama. A faulty IT system which led to prosecutions of postmasters in the UK was challenged by postmaster Alan Bates when he formed the justice for sub-postmasters alliance in 2009 and took on the might of the Royal Mail when prosecutions led to some postmasters committing suicide and others with crippling debt. A riveting watch that shouldn't be missed, this was broadcast over the 1,2,3 ands 4th of January so should be available on the ITV Iplayer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPkvYXufpAY

L1011

The show manages to somehow completely omit the role of the then Royal Mail CEO Adam Crozier; who left Royal Mail to become CEO of... ITV.

easygoing39

I seen Episode 1 on one on the Virgin channel's,set the box to record the rest.Looking forward to seeing the rest of the episode's as the 1st part was excellent.

Atlantic Dawn

Yes enjoying this, last part on tonight.

realdanbreen

This true story just concluded tonight on itv,anyone see it? It would make your blood boil when you see how the ordinary person is treated by these institutions, very similar to how the HSE etc will fight you all the way through the courts rather than admit liability.

JP Liz V1

Toby Jones always watchable as is Shaun Dooley

anewme

The documentary is on now just after it. I’m going to watch.

This has to be one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in recent times. Last nights episode rocked me. Corporate bullying at its finest. No answer yet from Fujitsu.

As regards the adaptation by ITV, the acting was superb.

And as for Mr. Bates, he’s some man for one man.

realdanbreen

Just interviewing the actual postmaster now on itv.

jj880

On ep 2 now. Going to watch the whole lot tonight. Its sickening.

anewme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121572975#Comment_121572975

Wait till you watch episode 3.

realdanbreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121573066#Comment_121573066

Those real life interviews now on itv are also sickening.

muddypaws

I knew the story which is why I watched it, brilliantly done.

There's at least one petition on social media for Paula Vennels to have her CBE taken back. I've never see a petition shared as much as I'm seeing this one.

realdanbreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121573099#Comment_121573099

I understand she's also some sort of religious minister or priest or something, the usual "pillar of the community ".

KaneToad

Not a fan of dramas when a documentary is far more informative and hard hitting.

realdanbreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121573132#Comment_121573132

I think the drama captured the wrongdoing brilliantly and brought the scandal out into the open.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121573132#Comment_121573132

There was an hour long documentary on tonight from 10.45 to 11.45 on ITV.

Well worth a watch if you can access it on ITV X.

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121573066#Comment_121573066

Just finished ep 3. Imagine this endless abuse of people is what you do for a living. Scum.

realdanbreen

I'd say Paula Vennells will have her CBE thrown in the toilet by month end.

anewme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121573237#Comment_121573237

We can but hope.

the fact she got it in the first place says enough.

waterwelly

Incredible story.

bodhrandude

Brilliant series.

realdanbreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121573265#Comment_121573265

Just shows how obnoxious that whole awards system is.

volchitsa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121570210#Comment_121570210

How is this even possible? Can you tell us more about his role in events or do you just mean that as CEO he must have known/had a hand in it?

It’s kind of surprising that someone with something to hide would have allowed the program to be made in the first place! Though I guess it means he’d have control over what it said about him. Still. It’s inviting attention isn’t it?

anewme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121573162#Comment_121573162

Totally agree.

when you meet the real people in the documentary after the drama!, you just see how perfect the casting was.

The acting was subperb, not just Toby Jones, every one of them. I was really surprised how good Will Mellor was.

Julie Hesmonhalgh (also excellent) said on Twitter afterwards that the cast are blown away by the public reaction.

I was also surprised no mention of previous CEO either, given the timeline.( he was there 2004-2010)Edited to add: I’ve just read that he went on to ITV! As CEO and director of ITV production company. No way!!!

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121573556#Comment_121573556

It's deliberate, that's how it's possible. ITV don't want to get any association from having hired Crozier.

He has since left ITV

Former Former Former

Crozier was CEO of Royal Mail, which is a separate entity to the Post Office, it was the Post Office who was responsible for the scandal.

It was a very good show, very well done - I remember reading about it a couple of years ago and it was jaw-dropping stuff.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121574054#Comment_121574054

They were not separate entities at the time he was there. The split happened afterwards

jj880

Another vote for the ITV True Story. I recommend watching after the 4 ep drama. F*ck Fujitsu and the Post Office. They are the thieves in this story working together to destroy innocent people. Someone has to be jailed but I'll believe it when I see it.

newport2

How this didn't get more media attention over the years is beyond me. I'd read a bit about it, but it should have got a lot more coverage than it did.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121575308#Comment_121575308

Computer Weekly and Private Eye were the only ones to report it for many years.

Multiple reasons the main media ran away - Royal Mail / Post Office are a big advertiser, Fujitsu is a huge firm many of them do business with. Media had already run lots of stories about the "robbing postmasters" when the inaccurate convictions occured and couldn't backtrack.

cml387

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121575323#Comment_121575323

and there was a podcast series I listened to some years ago, done by the BBC. I didn't see the programme but the further on the podcast went you just felt more and more angry.

realdanbreen

Any chance something similar has/ is happening here? Not necessarily An Post but I'm sure other institutions, particularly the HSE, have covered up.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121577098#Comment_121577098

Unlikely, but it's definitely not impossible.

There are very few direct equivalent setups of franchisers accessing a state system here (bar An Post and the remaining franchised dole signing offices); but the overall idea of an error being covered up to refuse to admit something is wrong has happened so many places around the world.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121577098#Comment_121577098

Not impossible but unlikely.

The actions of the Post Office were not just covering up which is bad but is a lesser offence than what they did.

They actively ruined people's lives and prosecuted them when they knew they were innocent.

Take the case of the woman they forced into a plea bargain even though they had no evidence to support a prosecution.

Hopefully this story is not over yet and those responsible are held to account.

political analyst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121577220#Comment_121577220

You're right - it's not over.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67899189

political analyst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121577098#Comment_121577098

I don't envisage any HSE scandal having the effects that the Horizon glitches and the Post Office/Fujitsu cover up had. As for the HSE, I remember the PPARS scandal but there was no suggestion of criminality that I'm aware of.

cml387

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121577394#Comment_121577394

Has everyone forgotten the haemophiliacs and the contaminated blood transfusion products?

political analyst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121579615#Comment_121579615

I was thinking of cases in which computer systems 'went south' and caused miscarriages of justice. Contamination of blood transfusions was not unique to one specific country or group of countries.

political analyst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121575323#Comment_121575323

Maybe the mainstream media didn't have enough evidence to justify publication of articles on it. Even 'Computer Weekly' was hesitant about publishing the story at first - it did so in 2009. In that year, social media were in their infancy and thus not yet widely available - as was stated in the ITV documentary tie-in with the drama.

political analyst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121574027#Comment_121574027

ITV's explanation for the lack of reference to Crozier is stated in the last paragraph of the following article.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12918565/itv-viewers-mr-bates-vs-post-office-drama-ex-royal-mail-chief-adam-crozier.html

phelixoflaherty

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000jf7j

.j

newport2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121573237#Comment_121573237

Good call, she's announced she's giving back her CBE today.

Atlantic Dawn

It is being repeated again next week from Monday night on ITV for anyone who missed it first time around.

jj880

So as I understand it the latest offers are post masters who went to jail are being offered £600k. For post masters who lost everything but didn't go to jail the offer is 60k. Others are being offered less based on any evidence of losses they can produce.

Pathetic. Whats a ruined life and being jailed for something you didn't do worth? Your kids being spat on because you're accused of thieving from your community?

These people should get millions and those scum involved have to go to jail.

BENDYBINN

The decent British people need to wise up as who they elect to govt……they’re the laughing stock of Europe

beertons

Just started it tonight. Very good, will keep watching.

cml387

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121604649#Comment_121604649

This scandal started under Labour. It's nothing to do with the government, but they have to sort out the mess.

FlubberJones

Cracking four part series, watched the lot last night, as a Brit I was aware of this and great to see it's now super topical in the UK again and investigations / enquiries being reopened.

waywill1966

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121604554#Comment_121604554

Not the sign language version I hope!

talla10

Watched 3 episodes so far. It's amazing how far corporations will go to cover up the truth at all costs and how hard it is for ordinary decent people to be heard and believed/

beertons

Finished it areir, we were all balling our eyes out at the end of it.