Phase 4 Hearings to begin soon

The Inquiry’s Phase 4 Hearings will begin in less than two weeks, with witnesses including former Post Office security officials, a prosecutions expert witness, and individuals involved in early Horizon proceedings.  

Following a period of ill health, the Inquiry is pleased to confirm that Sir Wyn Williams is able to resume hearing oral evidence as planned from Tuesday 4 July. 

Whilst his recovery continues, the Chair will hear evidence remotely from Wales, as he has done previously.  

Issues being explored in Phase 4 

Phase 4 is addressing action taken against subpostmasters and others, policy making, audits and investigations, civil and criminal proceedings, knowledge of and responsibility for failures in investigation and disclosure. 

In his opening statement last year, Counsel to the Inquiry, Jason Beer KC, explored some of the issues that will be examined in Phase 4.  

He said Sir Wyn will “consider the civil actions taken against subpostmasters to recover these losses and will consider the Post Office's decisions to prosecute individuals for theft and false accounting, on the basis of the data shown on Horizon”. 

He said the Phase will hear further evidence about audits, stating: “You have, of course, also heard evidence during the Human Impact Hearings as to how subpostmasters felt they were treated by the auditors and how experienced the people carrying out the audits were. 

“You will wish to consider whether the process was fair and whether it was adequate.” 

Watch our short video about Phase 4 of the Inquiry:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVuccsyg_6k

The witness timetable for the first four weeks of Phase 4 is available here, and proceedings will be available to view via the Inquiry’s YouTube channel. 

Further Phase 4 Hearings will take place after the summer break. 

Ends.