… plus book news, etc…

Well hello there.

I haven’t written for a while because I wanted to “launch” (like it’s some kind of spaceship) my new website, and then tell you about it, and I had forgotten what a colossal pain in the whodyamaflip launching a website is.

Anyway it’s up, and it currently has very limited functionality, it is called www.postofficescandal.uk. There’s not much to see, but please do have a look and let me know what you think, what you think should be added and I’ll do my best to develop it properly.

The Great Post Office Scandal

I am getting borderline excited about The Great Post Office Scandal finally being available on Amazon, via Waterstones, from the publishers (recommended) and in your local bookshop on 18 November.

I am going to visit the publishers on the 16 November to sign all the pre-sale books, and then they can start being shipped to those who have bought them. I realise many people reading this newsletter are also people who have bought pre-sale copies of the book, so I just want to put on the record how grateful I am to you for putting the money up front when this book was just an idea.

It provided me with the incentive – imperative, even – to get it written. As well as being endlessly, and forever grateful to the people who told me their stories, and risked their own careers by giving me documents and information, I am also endlessly and forever grateful to you for underwriting this enterprise.

I had a meeting with my publisher the other day and we both worked out that in order to break even we had to sell out of our first print run. Whilst the pre-orders convinced us we had a fighting chance, I now need to go into full-on hustle mode to sell the book and spread the word.

To that end, if you have a local bookshop, I would be grateful if you would consider asking them if they would consider stocking the book. If you know a local or national news editor who you think might be interested in interviewing me about the book and the story, please pass on my email and phone number – 07976 432174. I would be delighted to tell them more about it. I can send you a press release, if that would be of interest.

Horizon Scandal Fund

We have finally settled on a name for the foundation – the Horizon Scandal Fund. It turns out writing and publishing a book is actually more straightforward than setting up a charity, and so whilst the directors of Bath Publishing and I had hoped to have the fund up and running by the time the book was out, we have also discovered the Charity Commission has a four-month backlog in dealing with new applications.

We also want our trustees to be fully representative, with the relevant skills to help the people who might be applying. That is not something which can be rushed. Also we need a proper bank account. Setting up a charity bank account is hard without a registered charity number. I am deeply grateful to a few secret emailers who have volunteered their time and expertise over the last few weeks. I hope that by the time the book is launched the Horizon Scandal Fund has four launch trustees, a website and way to deposit donations. As the weeks go on we will invite a group of trustees who have the relevant skillsets to join and then, hopefully, in the first half of the new year, open the charity up to applications for cash.

Panorama

I am delighted to tell you that there will be a third Panorama into the Post Office Horizon Scandal. This is going to be very different to the first two. Firstly it won’t have a presenter, secondly, it will be an hour long. It will be the definitive account of the scandal so far. I am delighted to tell you I am working with the same team who made the first two Panoramas (Matt Bardo and Tim Robinson – who feature in the book and who are genuinely amazing journalists) and they are on this story full time as of now.

To that end, I really need your help. This final Panorama will be the one thing – more than any government inquiry or book – which can really, finally expose this scandal for what it is. If you are a lawyer sitting on a document or a former Post Office executive or employee who knows what was going on and feel able to get in contact, please do so. Just reply to this email or contact me at nick@nickwallis.com

Contacting me does not mean you are exposed in any way. I deal with people in absolute confidence. I know far more about this scandal than I have ever been able to publish because people approach me, and if they want our communication to remain secret, it does. The legal process is extremely effective, and it has (slowly) brought some people to a point whereby they might get some kind of redress for what has happened to them, but if you actually want the public to know what happened, and if you want those responsible held to account – journalists and journalism are far more effective than any other avenue.

If you have a document you think might be of interest – it doesn’t matter if it’s privileged or not. Give it to a journalist. We never divulge our sources. You are completely protected.

If you want to give me information or worked within the Post Office and want to give your perspective, I can keep your identity secret, but get what you have to say into the public domain. On or off the record, in confidence or on camera, it is entirely up to you. Your choice will be completely respected. If you know someone who might have something to say, please forward this email to them.

Media requests

Over the last few weeks I have been contacted by a number of well-meaning people who want to speak to me about this scandal and who also want to speak to Subpostmasters caught up in it.

I am acutely aware that re-living horrible experiences can be traumatic and being asked to talk about it dredges up feelings which have an impacting people’s day or even week.

I am also aware that many people who have been through this uniquely dreadful scandal want to continue campaigning and ensuring a) the public know about it b) those responsible are held to account. It is only recently I realised I don’t know where all the Subpostmasters I am in contact with actually sit on this matter. I don’t want to contact people who don’t want to be contacted, and I don’t want to miss people who might really appreciate the opportunity to go on radio, television, or join a focus group or academic seminar, zoom etc and explain what happened to them and why it was wrong.

I would be enormously grateful – if you are a Subpostmaster or Post Office Manager who was caught up in this – whether you were convicted, prosecuted, sacked or just forced to pay back money under threat of termination – you could let me know if you are willing to let me point good, honest and credible journalists, academics and podcasters in your direction.

I will put together a spreadsheet of people who are willing to be contacted and to speak on the record about what happened (and those who very much aren’t), and when people come calling, I can feel comfortable getting in contact with you and asking if this is something you want to do. I will also happily advise you on when you should ask for a fee and how much you should ask for!

That’s enough for now. I will try to get another email out tomorrow with some more links to the recent activity of my peers, and previewing Monday’s statutory inquiry hearing, which I am attending.

For now – thank you so much for being interested in this story. I am cranking up the wheel again and I hope to keep pushing this story to somewhere near the top of the news agenda wherever I can.

Yours

Nick