of a foggy it system begin shortly. it comes after an itv drama raise the profile of the scandal. this morning a former post office investigator will face questions. stephen batchelor was part of the team whose work led to criminal proceedings against some sub—postmasters. the itv drama mr bates versus the post office has shone a light on how sub—postmasters were wrongly convicted of money which was missing due to a foggy horizon accounting software. it's a start tobyjones, will mellor and monica beaumont. patrick spence was the executive sponsor and james strong who worked as a director on the drama. thank you. patrick, starting with you. your reaction when it comes to this public outcry following your series. it’s when it comes to this public outcry following your series.— following your series. it's very gratifying- _ following your series. it's very

gratifying- it's _ following your series. it's very gratifying. it's stunning, - following your series. it's very gratifying. it's stunning, we i following your series. it's very i gratifying. it's stunning, we were not expecting it and it's very gratifying but it's amazing, we are so happy for all of the sub—postmasters. so happy for all of the sub-postmasters. so happy for all of the sub- ostmasters. , . , ., , ., so happy for all of the sub-ostmasters. , . , ., , ., ., sub-postmasters. james, to you, how did ou sub-postmasters. james, to you, how did you know — sub-postmasters. james, to you, how did you know exactly _ sub-postmasters. james, to you, how did you know exactly get _ sub-postmasters. james, to you, how did you know exactly get drawn - sub-postmasters. james, to you, how did you know exactly get drawn into i did you know exactly get drawn into this story? we did you know exactly get drawn into this sto ? �* ., , ., , this story? i've done true stories before. this story? i've done true stories before- we _ this story? i've done true stories before. we are _ this story? i've done true stories before. we are always _ this story? i've done true stories before. we are always looking i this story? i've done true stories| before. we are always looking for something different and something original— something different and something original that you can bring to the story— original that you can bring to the story and — original that you can bring to the story and the first time i read it, i was _ story and the first time i read it, i was ashamed to say i did not know as much_ i was ashamed to say i did not know as much as — i was ashamed to say i did not know as much as i — i was ashamed to say i did not know as much as i thought i did so the emotional— as much as i thought i did so the emotional impact was so huge, i knew i wanted _ emotional impact was so huge, i knew i wanted to— emotional impact was so huge, i knew i wanted to tell the story and bring this incredible story to a wider audienca _ this incredible story to a wider audience. , , ., this incredible story to a wider audience-— this incredible story to a wider audience. , , ., _ ., audience. interesting you say that. you said you _ audience. interesting you say that. you said you did _ audience. interesting you say that. you said you did not _ audience. interesting you say that. you said you did not know - audience. interesting you say that. you said you did not know much i audience. interesting you say that. . you said you did not know much about the story because that's like the rest of the public, even though this has been going on for years in the inquiry has been going on since 2021, it your series that has led to

such a big public outcry on this and even action from the government. patrick, how does that feel to know this could actually lead to real meaningful change for the victims? i think alan bates would say we are not there yet. this is a fantastic step. fantastic, unprecedented step but until allen is happy, we are not. ., ., ~ ., but until allen is happy, we are not. ., ., ~ . , not. you mentioned alan bates there, lease not. you mentioned alan bates there, please remind — not. you mentioned alan bates there, please remind the _ not. you mentioned alan bates there, please remind the viewers _ not. you mentioned alan bates there, please remind the viewers of - not. you mentioned alan bates there, please remind the viewers of his - please remind the viewers of his story because he is pivotal to this, the one who fought so hard for years to getjustice for the one who fought so hard for years to get justice for the the one who fought so hard for years to getjustice for the victims. b, to getjustice for the victims. number of people fought hard, he is part of what we like to think of of a curiously british avengers ensemble but he is not a person to pick a fight with him, really, he is brilliant and stubborn and determined and honest and inspirational and there picked a

fight with the wrong guy. that is what ou fight with the wrong guy. that is what you need — fight with the wrong guy. that is what you need for _ fight with the wrong guy. that is what you need for something . fight with the wrong guy. that is | what you need for something like this, someone extremely stubborn and not willing to let the bone goal but james, what kind of research went into this because some of the actors have talked about meeting with the real—life people behind the story to understand their perspective? it started with the script, three years researching that and meeting and becoming friends and gaining the trust _ becoming friends and gaining the trust of— becoming friends and gaining the trust of alan bates and lots of other— trust of alan bates and lots of other sub—postmasters affected by this issue — other sub—postmasters affected by this issue so that infused the script— this issue so that infused the script with authenticity which was incredible. transferring that to the screen, _ incredible. transferring that to the screen, lots of actors wanted to meet _ screen, lots of actors wanted to meet the — screen, lots of actors wanted to meet the real people and the challenge was to try and tell the story— challenge was to try and tell the story as — challenge was to try and tell the story as accurately as possible, truly— story as accurately as possible, truly and — story as accurately as possible, truly and accurately reflect exactly what happened, the exact emotional horror_ what happened, the exact emotional horror that _ what happened, the exact emotional horror that these people went through _ horror that these people went through. the involvement of the real

people _ through. the involvement of the real heapie was— through. the involvement of the real people was crucial all the way through. _ people was crucial all the way through, right until the finished show— through, right until the finished show was — through, right until the finished show was on screen. you mentioned emotional horror, _ show was on screen. you mentioned emotional horror, that _ show was on screen. you mentioned emotional horror, that is _ show was on screen. you mentioned emotional horror, that is the - show was on screen. you mentioned emotional horror, that is the tragic l emotional horror, that is the tragic part of this, the emotional and psychological impact it had on some of the victims. some of them became suicidal and what other stories did you hear about?— you hear about? there's plenty on record of terrible _ you hear about? there's plenty on record of terrible stories - you hear about? there's plenty on record of terrible stories of - you hear about? there's plenty oni record of terrible stories of people suffering _ record of terrible stories of people suffering and homelessness, losing their business, their reputation, their— their business, their reputation, their name, going to prison, the list goes — their name, going to prison, the list goes on _ their name, going to prison, the list goes on of terrible injustices and crimes that were committed against — and crimes that were committed against these people.— and crimes that were committed against these people. patrick, what is it that you _ against these people. patrick, what is it that you really _ against these people. patrick, what is it that you really want _ against these people. patrick, what is it that you really want the - is it that you really want the public to take away from not only show but from this entire episode? i think we got more than we ever

dreamt of, i'm not sure we can ask any more from the public than we have already given. we had tapped into a communal rage about the suffering of the sub—postmasters but also i think we've tapped into a rage again, i use that word, it would appear on social media that we all feel about the feeling of being on heard by politicians and by the people that run our big corporations. a feeling that actually it turns out we do not trust them and we probably have good reason not to and it's so sad to discover how many of them are lying or cheating or bullying and i think this show on this story has come along at a time when we feel we have had enough and the people have come together to help the sub—postmasters tjy together to help the sub—postmasters by creating a public outcry but let's move on to the next story now,

let's move on to the next story now, let's find out who else is suffering. let's find out who else is suffering-— let's find out who else is sufferin. . �*, suffering. patrick, you said let's move on and — suffering. patrick, you said let's move on and i _ suffering. patrick, you said let's move on and i have _ suffering. patrick, you said let's move on and i have to - suffering. patrick, you said let's move on and i have to ask - suffering. patrick, you said let's move on and i have to ask and i suffering. patrick, you said let's - move on and i have to ask and james, i will ask you this afterwards as well, now that you've made this programme and you had this impact, would you consider yourself an activist now? is this a case in story you will follow closely? i will always be emotionally wedded to the story but i have made seven dramas now and we start filming a new one on monday that are often about abuses of power and often shine a light on the work of journalists and activists because thatis journalists and activists because that is as a dramatist, what feels most genuine and a life and it's exciting to do that.— most genuine and a life and it's exciting to do that. james, what about you? _ exciting to do that. james, what about you? this _ exciting to do that. james, what about you? this story _ exciting to do that. james, what about you? this story will - exciting to do that. james, what| about you? this story will always stay with — about you? this story will always stay with me. i will always hopefully be involved in keeping in touch—

hopefully be involved in keeping in touch with — hopefully be involved in keeping in touch with what is happening to these _ touch with what is happening to these people but as a filmmaker like patrick. _ these people but as a filmmaker like patrick, one looks at the next story and i_ patrick, one looks at the next story and i think— patrick, one looks at the next story and i think we're all activists in what _ and i think we're all activists in what we — and i think we're all activists in what we in _ and i think we're all activists in what we in terms of choosing our projects — what we in terms of choosing our projects and stories that we want to tell and _ projects and stories that we want to tell and bring to attention. patrick. _ tell and bring to attention. patrick. i_ tell and bring to attention. patrick, i assume you will watch how the inquiry develops, whether you are watching it every minute or not i don't know. but i wonder whether you will be looking at seeing how this progresses and possibly making another drama that follows through everything that we are seeing now and hopefully will continue to see for the next year? i and hopefully will continue to see for the next year?— for the next year? i have been offered a _ for the next year? i have been offered a chance _ for the next year? i have been offered a chance to _ for the next year? i have been offered a chance to sit - for the next year? i have been offered a chance to sit and - for the next year? i have been i offered a chance to sit and watch one of the sub—postmasters when they give their testimony but in terms of the drama i think our work is done and it is time for us to back away and it is time for us to back away and let other people pick up the story and for alan dunne has work to

get them where they need to be but we are moving on to other stories, looking into the work of other people who deserve to be questioned. patrick when you sit down and listen to the testimony, what will you be looking for?— looking for? tom weatherill has written in the _ looking for? tom weatherill has written in the times _ looking for? tom weatherill has written in the times about - looking for? tom weatherill has written in the times about the l written in the times about the existence of secret tapes that were recorded at senior executives at the post office not realising they were being recorded and it is said that there is damning material on them and i will be longing to hear what those types have.— and i will be longing to hear what those types have. what consequences would ou those types have. what consequences would you like — those types have. what consequences would you like to _ those types have. what consequences would you like to see? _ those types have. what consequences would you like to see? that _ those types have. what consequences would you like to see? that is - those types have. what consequences would you like to see? that is not - would you like to see? that is not for me to say- _ would you like to see? that is not for me to say. i _ would you like to see? that is not for me to say. i cannot _ would you like to see? that is not for me to say. i cannot possibly i would you like to see? that is not| for me to say. i cannot possibly be involved, that is what the inquiry is therefore. i am an itv producer. i have had my say.— is therefore. i am an itv producer. i have had my say. james, what about ou? what i have had my say. james, what about you? what is — i have had my say. james, what about you? what is the _ i have had my say. james, what about you? what is the testimony _ i have had my say. james, what about you? what is the testimony and - you? what is the testimony and pieces of this inquiry that you

think will be the most important to listen to, is at the stories of the victims or the people being held to account here?— account here? well, it is both reall . account here? well, it is both really- the — account here? well, it is both really. the victims _ account here? well, it is both really. the victims have - account here? well, it is both really. the victims have been | really. the victims have been treated — really. the victims have been treated appallingly and deserved their moment to make sure all their stories— their moment to make sure all their stories are — their moment to make sure all their stories are heard and heard properly. _ stories are heard and heard properly. but also the flip of that is understanding who is responsible. and i_ is understanding who is responsible. and i think— is understanding who is responsible. and i think we all want to hear from those _ and i think we all want to hear from those who— and i think we all want to hear from those who were behind this atrocity and behind this terrible event. and see that _ and behind this terrible event. and see that some form ofjustice is applied — see that some form ofjustice is applied to — see that some form ofjustice is applied to them. see that some form of 'ustice is applied to them._ see that some form of 'ustice is applied to them. patrick, you are an executive producer, _ applied to them. patrick, you are an executive producer, james - applied to them. patrick, you are an executive producer, james you - applied to them. patrick, you are an executive producer, james you are l applied to them. patrick, you are anj executive producer, james you are a director. patrick, iwould executive producer, james you are a director. patrick, i would love to know, you said you were drawn to stories like this, stories of injustice, stories that can have an impact. what is it about dramas, what can they do that perhaps we as

journalists cannot do in the same way when we are telling a story and trying to highlight these injustices? fin trying to highlight these injustices?— trying to highlight these in'ustices? ~ a , trying to highlight these in'ustices? ~ , ., , injustices? on the mr bates example, what we were — injustices? on the mr bates example, what we were able _ injustices? on the mr bates example, what we were able to _ injustices? on the mr bates example, what we were able to do _ injustices? on the mr bates example, what we were able to do and - injustices? on the mr bates example, what we were able to do and what - what we were able to do and what james did with the script so masterfully was go inside the homes and hearts of the victims who suffered and literally dramatise what it felt like to go through that, to allow an audience to vicariously live through the horror and to understand it and journalists cannot do that however well they write. we were hugely inspired by the work of marina hyde, she got us worked up, i am stunned she did not get more attention for the work she did but we were able to take people inside those homes and allow them to feel the same way when they watched what was happening tojoe and all of the others so that's what drama can do, it brings to light those

emotions and allows us to feel good and bad. , ., , , emotions and allows us to feel good and bad. , . , , i. emotions and allows us to feel good and bad. , , ., emotions and allows us to feel good andbad. , , ., ., and bad. james, but you what patrick said something _ and bad. james, but you what patrick said something very _ and bad. james, but you what patrick said something very similar - and bad. james, but you what patrick said something very similar to - and bad. james, but you what patrick said something very similar to an - said something very similar to an authori said something very similar to an author i spoke to recently, it doesn't matter if you read a lot about it in non—fiction or the newspapers or see it on tv you have to feel like you are following the story of one individual and loving their day—to—day life to understand an issue. is that what you feel the drama did? i an issue. is that what you feel the drama did?— drama did? i think drama in an emotional— drama did? i think drama in an emotional position _ drama did? i think drama in an emotional position and - drama did? i think drama in an emotional position and creates drama did? i think drama in an i emotional position and creates an emotional— emotional position and creates an emotional attachment to the character so you are in the moment with that _ character so you are in the moment with that character, experiencing at a visceral— with that character, experiencing at a visceral level than going through these _ a visceral level than going through these experiences so it feels a stronger— these experiences so it feels a stronger connection so i think drama gives— stronger connection so i think drama gives you _ stronger connection so i think drama gives you that emotional veracity which _ gives you that emotional veracity whichjournalism or a documentary which journalism or a documentary cannot _ which journalism or a documentary cannot it — whichjournalism or a documentary cannot. it has a retrospective quality— cannot. it has a retrospective quality to— cannot. it has a retrospective quality to it whereas drama, you are in the _ quality to it whereas drama, you are in the moment with them experiencing it as it— in the moment with them experiencing it as it happens to them so the

connection— it as it happens to them so the connection is stronger i think, that is the _ connection is stronger i think, that is the power— connection is stronger i think, that is the power of drama, poetry and -rab is the power of drama, poetry and grab you _ is the power of drama, poetry and grab you and drag it through these stories _ grab you and drag it through these stories. , ., , �* grab you and drag it through these stories. , . , ~ ., . ~ grab you and drag it through these stories. , . , ~ . . ,, ., ~ grab you and drag it through these stories. , . , ~ . . ,, ., ,, , ., stories. james ann packer, thank you both so much — stories. james ann packer, thank you both so much in _ stories. james ann packer, thank you both so much in banking _ stories. james ann packer, thank you both so much in banking for - stories. james ann packer, thank you both so much in banking for your- both so much in banking for your work, the evidence, what is happening today, the inquiry continuing, the public outcry thanks partly to your drama on itv that has done so much more attention to that. thank you for your work and thank you for your time. yesterday prime minister rishi sunak announced the hundreds of convictions will be overturned. i haven't got that money, and i don't know where it's gone. jo hamilton, the sub—postmistress portrayed in the recent itv drama, has played a key role in the fight for justice.

she told bbc breakfast her story back in march 2020. ia times i had to plead guilty. you just wanted to scream. i'd been told that i had to look like i was sorry, and... ..erm, and ijust couldn't explain it. the whole thing was crazy. and two days later, a powerful committee of mps promised they'd investigate. we will be launching an inquiry next week to try and get some answers, and to try and get some justice for people like seema and jo, but hundreds of others in the same position. that was four years ago. do you remember how you felt when the announcement of the mps' inquiry was made live on breakfast? wow, it's so exciting. at least somebody somewhere is taking it seriously, you know, which, up until then nobody was really listening. that mps' inquiry led to the bigger public inquiry that resumes today. a statutory public inquiry like this one is a big deal. it has the full backing of the law to make witnesses attend and face questions, even if they don't want to.

it can't punish anyone, but it can point the finger where it thinks people and organisations have failed or acted badly. and ultimately, it's about getting to the truth of what really happened and who was involved. and that matters, as one wronglyjailed branch manager told us on yesterday's bbc breakfast special. you're going to the inquiry, are you? lam, yes. what will you be telling the inquiry? i'm not. i'm actually watching one of my investigators, who helped send me to prison. to hear them give evidence? give evidence, yeah, tomorrow. and what are you expecting to hear? what do you want to hear? what do you need to hear? i've brought a notepad just to write down, "i don't recall", "i don't remember". i'm going to calculate just to see how many times he says it. how important is it to see the post office's own investigators be quizzed and appear before the inquiry? well, i personally found it very cathartic. i enjoyed watching them squirm a bit. and i think it's good for you to see them put on the rack, just like we were put

on the rack in the crown court, because i know how it felt when he was round here at the house accusing me. mr speaker, this is one of the greatest miscarriages ofjustice in our nation's history. the prime minister's now announced a new law that will overturn all remaining convictions, and the 555 postmasters who took the post office to the high court in 2019, and won, will get an upfront payment of £75,000. they have lost everything. they've lost houses, livelihoods, shops, businesses. you know, it's — to think that £75,000 is actually enough, to an average member of the public, they would think that's a lot of money. but actually, when you look at what people have lost, it's absolutely nothing, you know. i think they missed the nought off the end personally.

live now to our correspondent zoe conway who's outside the inquiry in central london what can we expect today? the inquiry has been broken up two different stages, the state we're in at the moment is looking at how the post office investigated the sub—postmasters because let's remember, they had their own investigation and prosecution process separate from the police and crown prosecution service and one of those investigators is stephen bradshaw and we know he was involved in investigating at ten cases. in total the kinds of lines of questioning to stephen bradshaw i think one of the things that could well come up is that several of the sub—postmasters in very powerful testimony and witness statements have accuse these investigators of

threatening, intimidating and cruel behaviour towards them when they were being investigated. we have one witness and pardon the language that she says in a phone call stephen bradshaw called her a pitch. we have testimony for someone called lisa brennan, another sub—postmaster and she said she was interviewed by stephen bradshaw as well, she said the interview was insulting throughout. they said to her you are a bit of a big girl, throughout. they said to her you are a bit ofa big girl, do throughout. they said to her you are a bit of a big girl, do you like going out for meals, have you got lots of money and she described this as derogatory so i think that could be one line of questioning but also i think there's going to be questions about why is it that when sub—postmasters told the investigators it was the horizon system that was at fault, why didn't those investigators go to forjitsu and request the relevant data that

could have stood up what the sub—postmasters were telling them? and what i think is really interesting is in december, at one of the last evidence sessions, one of the last evidence sessions, one of the last evidence sessions, one of the investigators said that they were being given bonuses linked to how much money they were getting clawed back from the sub—postmaster so it was in their financial interest to pursue these investigations to get convictions the other thing was he said when the post office, if the post office went two forjitsu to ask for the data they will get charged so there you have examples of why there might have examples of why there might have been a financial disincentive to get to the truth. i have been a financial disincentive to get to the truth.— to get to the truth. i want to apologise — to get to the truth. i want to apologise for— to get to the truth. i want to apologise for the _ to get to the truth. i want to apologise for the language l to get to the truth. i want to i apologise for the language but to get to the truth. i want to - apologise for the language but the fact we have to apologise for the language shows how serious that accusation is in terms of the language allegedly being used against these supposedly during these investigations. i want to ask

you, there's that saying justice delayed isjustice denied, that you, there's that saying justice delayed is justice denied, that is the overwhelming feeling hear from mps. .. , the overwhelming feeling hear from mps. , �* ., the overwhelming feeling hear from mps. �* ., the overwhelming feeling hear from mps. , �* ., ., mps. exactly. but on top of the fact that this has _ mps. exactly. but on top of the fact that this has been _ mps. exactly. but on top of the fact that this has been dragging - mps. exactly. but on top of the fact that this has been dragging on - mps. exactly. but on top of the fact that this has been dragging on for l that this has been dragging on for more than two decades, we also have the accusation that the post office has been dragging its feet during this inquiry. jason p e, the council inquiry, said the post office are standing in the way of the inquiry and preventing progress and the post office has been accused of causing multiple delays due to its failure to disclose documents on time so stephen birchall who we are hearing from today, we were supposed to hear from today, we were supposed to hear from him before christmas but his evidence session was delayed because it transpired that were thousands of

e—mails possibly as many as 300 —— 300,000 e—mails relevant to the inquiry that had onlyjust materialised before christmas. you're absolutely right. this idea of delay has really run through this entire story for more than a couple of decades. —— stephen bradshaw. please stay with us, we will have updates from you throughout the day and that inquiry is meant to start in about ten minutes are please stay with us. james arbuthnot, lord arbuthnot, is a member of the horizon compensation advisory board and former conservative mp. he's campaigned on this issue for many years and says he had faith in the inquiry. i think that jason i think thatjason beal, nick casey we heard at the beginning, is asking really powerful questions and the

sub—postmasters also have people representing them who are also asking really powerful questions. of these investigators, at the moment, who lied on an almost daily basis, who lied on an almost daily basis, who were incentivised to get convictions rather than justice. who were incentivised to get convictions rather thanjustice. and convictions rather than justice. and there convictions rather thanjustice. and there are shocking stories coming out but i have faith in sherwin—williams, he has been doing a really good job in running this public inquiry and i think most sub—postmasters who have been involved in it also have faith in him. and i also have faith in the minister kevin hollinger rick because before he became a minister he was one of the people campaigning on behalf of the sub—postmasters so

we are getting to the heart of the solution but it is taking far too long. as we've been reporting, the government confirmed it will introduce a one—off £75,000 payment for the 555 ex—postmasters whose group court case, led by alan bates, helped to expose the injustice. and those whose convictions are quashed are eligible for a £600,000 compensation payment, or potentially more if they go through a process of having their claim individually assessed. former sub—postmistress, jo hamilton, described what it means to those who are still waiting for compensation. the group of sub—postmasters me included, as one of the criminalised had tojoin what included, as one of the criminalised had to join what we call an overturned convictions scheme so they hooked us out of the fight back five and we have access to criminal compensation and i have had so much to be honest is life changing. i

know the people in the grip that are left fighting for compensation, it really does not mean very much to them because they have not had access, they have had access to virtually nothing so far. i think 0.5% of those 500 people have had any kind of money. among the sub—postmasters who were wrongly prosecuted is hasmukh shingadia. his post office in bucklebury in berkshire was used by the princess of wales when she was growing up nearby and he even got an invitation to her wedding. but his life was torn apart after he was prosecuted as john maguire explains. spend any time in hasmukh shingadia's village shop in berkshire, and like hundreds of other former postmasters up and down the uk, you understand why they're called a pillar of the community. special treat after first day back. how are the girls? they're fine, thank you.

in common with those hundreds, ne was also accused of theft and hounded by the post office after accounting failures with the malfunctioning horizon computer system. they were dark days. it was hard. really, really ha rd. we went through some really bad times. and at times, as i said, i had suicidal thoughts. what kept you going? what kept you fighting? fighting was to put myself right at some point and also for the sake of my family. i couldn't let them down. it wasn't their fault. so why should i do something which would hurt them any further? the princess of wales was brought up here. hash and his wife were invited to william and kate's wedding. herfamily were among those who supported him. others, though, turned their backs. a lot of people shunned, not only the community, but also members of my own family as well. but luckily, there were other people who stood by me, especially a very good friend of mine who went around to get some petitions signed, which were then presented

to the court at the time of my conviction. and the judge was impressed. he said, "i'd never seen anything like like this before" and said it would be a crime to send me to prison. hash had been a magistrate but was in the dock himself, accused of stealing money from the post office. he was given a suspended sentence and ordered to do almost 200 hours of community service. that conviction was overturned nine years later. i've declared my cash, i've declared my stock. i've done it all three times and i still can't get it to balance. now, thanks to the phenomenal success of itv�*s drama about the scandal, he welcomes the prime minister's pledge to exonerate the others falsely accused and convicted. overjoyed for not only for myself, but for the other subpostmasters who've been waiting for so long to have their conviction overturned. and at last they'll be able to hold their heads up high and able to look at society and say,

listen, here we are. it's now been quashed. the village shop is, of course, no longer a post office and his customers are fully aware of what he's been through. we had a party when... when the conviction was overturned, there was a big party and celebration. here in the shop. so yeah, it's been really, really awful for all involved. misfortune for them. but i mean, hopefully- the government will sort it out and get their money back. yeah, but what's happened to them in the past, - it's just totally disgusting. so now if you re—enter everything, it'll balance. ok, this is so helpful. thank you. don't go away. stay with me till i've done it. apologies, exoneration, compensation, although decades late, are all welcome. but as the itv drama highlights, hash says what remains is the search for properjustice and ultimately the truth. john maguire, bbc news, berkshire.

we are minutes ahead from the inquiry starting at any moment, please check the website because you will see there is a live page on the homepage of the bbc news website including details of the background of what is going on, a timeline of when these issues were flagged by alan bates, that was years ago and we will have updates from the inquiry on there. live now to our correspondent zoe conway who's outside the inquiry in central london we have had a strap on our screens saying 900 convictions but please remind us of the scale of this scandal and the sheer amount of victims? ., scandal and the sheer amount of victims? . ' :: :: , , scandal and the sheer amount of victims? . ':::: , , , victims? that 900 is 'ust the people that were convicted. — victims? that 900 isjust the people

that were convicted. we _ victims? that 900 isjust the people that were convicted. we are - victims? that 900 isjust the people that were convicted. we are talking | that were convicted. we are talking about thousands of people being involved in this because there is one for example sub—postmaster who was not convicted shazia sadiq, she was not convicted shazia sadiq, she was ordered to pay back tens of thousands of pounds due to the mistake of the horizon it system and she said her life was ruined and her family she said was having to pay this back over several years, she could not afford to pay back and she lost her home so we are notjust talking about people in ended up in court, we are talking about people who said their lives were ruined by being forced by the post office to get back money they said they did not owe. in terms of what we will hear from the inquiry today, we will be hearing from stephen bradshaw, one of the investigators about his role in pursuing these

sub—postmasters. several of the people who have been prominent in this campaign have gone into the inquiry to listen including joe hamilton, one of the most prominent characters in that itv drama so she will be listening, there are other sub—postmasters in there, i expect janet skinner to be in there. her case was investigated by stephen bradshaw so she is inside listening to what he has to say. he was one of several investigators and i think they will want to ask him about the behaviour of the investigators, the weight the sub—postmasters were treated and why they did not do more to get to the bottom of what was going on with that horizon it system. why did they see a party to present the guilt of the people they were questioning?— were questioning? some really troublin: were questioning? some really troubling stories _ were questioning? some really troubling stories from - were questioning? some really troubling stories from the - were questioning? some really i troubling stories from the victims here, there was one for example he was pregnant when she was convicted

and then sent to jail. what other stories can you tell us to describe exactly what real impact this has had on people's lives and the mental health? the inquiry is broken up into stages. we have already had one whole section of the inquiry which was all about the human impact on the sub—postmaster is of this entire process. the testimony is in place is harrowing. you're talking about people losing their homes, their livelihoods, their pensions. frankly, their reason for getting up in the morning. we have heard evidence of families where it is alleged that people have taken their own lives in relation to this scandal. so it is hard to overstate the impact that this has had on people. that has come out very forcefully in this inquiry so far. as i say, some of those people will

be there in the inquiry room,