The government sprang into action this week on the decades-old scandal after the ITV drama Mr Bates v The Post Office captured the public imagination. The drama portrayed the work of James Hartley, partner at Freeths, whose team acted for the 555 sub-postmasters with the Post Office eventually settling.
James Hartley, partner at Freeths, who represented the 555 in the first legal action against the Post Office, described the government’s announcement as ‘a sensible step forward in speeding up the compensation process.
‘Importantly, it will give the option for postmasters in the group to decide whether or not to accept that payment as fair compensation. Naturally there will be some postmasters who choose not to accept the £75,000 and they will still be able to continue their compensation claim in the GLO Scheme.
‘Our focus remains on driving forward all the compensation claims as quickly as possible’
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced primary legislation to exonerate, on a blanket basis, former sub-postmasters convicted in the Horizon scandal. While details of the proposed legislation are yet to be announced, Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake told the House of Commons those exonerated would be eligible for £600,000 compensation, with the option to have their claims individually assessed.
Hundreds of wrongfully convicted former sub-postmasters have yet to come forward and seek justice, according to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).
Errors created by the faulty Horizon IT accounting system led the Post Office to wrongfully prosecute and convict sub-postmasters of fraud, theft or false accounting over the course of two decades. About 20 victims served time in prison, while others opted to plead guilty to avoid prison and many suffered financial ruin.
The CCRC has referred 70 convictions to the appeal courts, with 62 convictions overturned. In order to refer, the person concerned must choose to appeal and the Horizon evidence must have been essential to their conviction.
CCRC chair, Helen Pitcher said: ‘However, hundreds of potential applicants have still not come forward—whether that’s directly to the Court of Appeal or requesting a review from the CCRC.
‘Some might understandably still be traumatised by what has happened to them and to their loved ones, but we can help and we encourage them to contact us.’
Neil Hudgell, executive chairman at Hudgell Solicitors, who has acted for 73 wrongly convicted sub-postmasters, said: ‘People may have left the jurisdiction, others may be elderly and not in touch with many people socially, and some may have died and kept what happened secret from their families because of the shame they felt at the time,’ he said.
‘Equally some may just remain fearful of entering any legal process that involves the Post Office.’
An ongoing statutory inquiry led by Sir Wyn Williams, the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, is due to conclude in the spring or summer.
