80 witness statements published following Phase 7 investigations

As Phase 7 concludes, the Inquiry has published 80 additional witness statements from former sub-postmasters, senior executives and employees at the Post Office, trade union representatives, as well as government ministers.

During today’s hearing, the final hearing of Phase 7, Sir Wyn Williams, Chair of the Inquiry, said: 

“I want to say that I am extremely grateful to everyone who has helped to make this phase run as smoothly as every other phase has done.... I'd [also] like to pay a special tribute to everybody who has attended this Inquiry." 

Read these witness statements on our website

Phase 7 of the Inquiry spanned 23 days of hearings and investigated issues such as current practice and procedure at the Post Office, as well as compensation. 

Throughout the phase, Sir Wyn Williams, Chair of the Inquiry, heard evidence from 33 witnesses including senior figures at the Post Office, current and former ministers, civil servants, governance expert witnesses, and a representative from the independent research and data analytics firm, YouGov.

See here for an infographic with key numbers about Phase 7

During Phase 7, YouGov also produced a report for the Inquiry based on findings from two surveys it conducted. Over 10,000 people from across the UK, including all current sub-postmasters and applicants under the Post Office’s in-house compensation scheme (the Horizon Shortfall Scheme), were asked to complete a survey about their experience of the Post Office and Horizon, or of claiming compensation.

During today's hearing, the Inquiry heard evidence from Governance Expert Witnesses, Dame Sandra Dawson and Dr Katy Steward. Examining Phase 5/6 evidence, the Governance Expert Witnesses also produced a second expert report about leadership, management and governance at the Post Office. 

The Chair, Sir Wyn Williams, has also issued a statement on the Post Office’s reliance on the reports it commissioned from Jonathan Laidlaw KC relating to the evidence provided by the Inquiry’s criminal prosecutions expert witness, Duncan Atkinson’s KC.

In his statement, Sir Wyn Williams reiterated his position that it would not be “appropriate” to admit Mr Laidlaw’s report as written evidence. 

He said: “I can think of no basis upon which the Post Office could reasonably believe that I was prepared to admit Mr Laidlaw’s first report into evidence without an application being made to me after I had said in terms that I was not prepared to admit it as evidence.”

He added that the Post Office would be able to make written submissions about the written and oral evidence given by Mr Atkinson KC to the Inquiry, in their closing submissions.

Closing Statements

The Inquiry will hear closing statements on 16 and 17 December 2024. During these closing statements, legal representatives of Core Participants to the Inquiry will have the opportunity to reflect on evidence the Inquiry has heard throughout all phases.   

Afterwards, the Inquiry will continue analysing evidence, drafting the final report and will begin a process known as Maxwellisation. This is where, under Rule 13 of the Inquiry Rules 2006, the Inquiry needs to give anyone criticised in the report a reasonable opportunity to respond. 

Transcripts from hearings during Phase 7 can be found on the Inquiry’s website.