The UK government has announced the launch of a new scheme that offers settlements of £600,000 to victims of the Post Office scandal. The scheme, called the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS), aims to provide financial support to sub-postmasters who were affected by the scandal and have been traumatized by the experience.
The scandal, which involved faulty IT software called Horizon, resulted in hundreds of sub-postmasters being falsely accused of stealing from branches. Many of these sub-postmasters faced criminal charges and were convicted, causing significant financial and emotional distress. The scandal has been described as one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in British history.
The HCRS is the fourth scheme of its kind and is specifically aimed at sub-postmasters whose convictions were not quashed by the courts but have now been automatically overturned by the previous government’s recent Post Office Offences Act. Under the scheme, affected individuals can choose to receive a fixed settlement of £600,000 or apply for a potentially higher amount by undergoing a detailed assessment of their case by the Department for Business and Trade. The minimum guaranteed payout under the scheme is £450,000.
Officials estimate that there are around 900 sub-postmasters who could be eligible for the scheme. Letters have already been sent out to some of them, with more expected to be dispatched throughout the summer. The Ministry of Justice has also committed to covering all reasonable legal fees for victims seeking advice on how to apply for a settlement.
Solicitor Neil Hudgell, whose firm has represented many victims of the scandal, welcomed the launch of the new scheme and stated that over 170 exonerated postal workers have already signed up for assistance. He also noted that there may be individuals with “very significant claims” that exceed the £600,000 settlement amount.
Since the scandal came to light, more than 2,800 sub-postmasters, including many who were not convicted of any crimes but were suspected of wrongdoing, have already received payouts. However, there are concerns that many more victims have yet to come forward. Former sub-postmaster and justice campaigner Chris Head expressed relief at the announcement of the new scheme but also voiced concerns that officials may not have sufficient records to contact all eligible individuals. He explained that many victims may be hesitant to come forward due to fear and a sense of betrayal by those in authority.
The government has set aside a total of £1 billion to fund compensation for victims of the Post Office scandal. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds stated, “Postmasters have suffered immeasurably so I hope today’s new redress scheme brings some relief to postmasters who have waited far too long to get back the money that is rightfully theirs.” Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood added, “Justice must be a reality, not an ideal. Today we begin putting this into practice by overturning the convictions of the innocent postmasters affected by this inexplicable and unprecedented miscarriage of justice.”
