Post Office Accused of Instructing Robbed Postmasters to Repay Money Taken in Raids

The BBC reported that over a dozen victimized sub-postmasters were instructed by the Post Office to reimburse the funds stolen during armed robberies.

A postmaster mentioned being pressured to refund £2,000 and highlighted the company's indifference to their safety concerns, after five years of no security upgrades.

BBC's Newsnight learned of 15 similar cases, with nine victims discussing their experiences. The Post Office claims it has improved support for victims and learned from these crimes to bolster security for all its postmasters.

Jonathan Brenton, who faced a knife-point robbery in Kent and received a demand for repayment, eventually stopped receiving such requests after seeking legal counsel and reaching out publicly.

Likewise, Lesley Pearsall, with 45 years as a Birmingham sub-postmistress, recounted a violent heist and the lack of empathy and support from the Post Office. Following an appeal, she wasn't required to repay the lost sum.

The contracts for these roles were deemed "unfair" by a judge in 2019's legal case, in which 555 sub-postmasters were wrongfully accused of theft due to a faulty computer system, Horizon. This led to the Post Office compensating the accused with £58 million.

A Post Office representative stated that security measures and support have been significantly upgraded, reducing crime rates in recent years through a 24/7 helpdesk and visits from security managers after robberies. They also stressed maintaining minimal cash in tills and securing safe and door areas.