Ex-Post Office boss searched for ‘non-emotive words’ to describe Horizon bugs, inquiry hears

Paula Vennells and senior execs accused of ‘Orwellian’ use of language over computer system’s failings

Paula Vennells, former chief executive of Post Office, and other senior executives searched for “non-emotive” words to describe computer bugs found in the Post Office’s Horizon IT system in an “absolutely Orwellian” use of language, a public inquiry has heard.

The inquiry is investigating why the Post Office hounded and prosecuted post office operators for more than a decade because of shortfalls in their branch accounts. It has since emerged that these discrepancies were due to IT problems in the Post Office’s Horizon computer system.