Govt green paper to look at Post Office ownership model

(Sharecast News) - Ownership of the Post Office could be handed to its operators under plans being put forward by ministers in a consultation after the Horizon IT scandal that saw hundreds wrongfully prosecuted for fraud. In a green paper - the first stage of any government consultation - the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) outlined the first major review of the organisation in 15 years. It will run until October 6 and follows publication last week of the first part of the two-year public inquiry into Horizon.

Ministers on Monday said part of the review would include looking at the ownership model of the Post Office, which is ultimately controlled by the government, including mutualisation.

"This green paper marks the start of an honest conversation about what people want and need from their Post Office in the years ahead," said Post Office minister Gareth Thomas.

"Post Offices continue to be a central part of our high streets and communities across the country. However, after 15 years without a proper review, and in the aftermath of the Horizon scandal, it's clear we need a fresh vision for the future."

About 1,000 post office operators were prosecuted by the Post Office between 1999 and 2015 because of faulty Horizon accounting software that made it look as though they had been committing fraud.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com