header-logo header-logo

Post Office scandal compensation scheme opens

31 July 2024
Issue: 8082 / Categories: Legal News , Compensation
printer mail-detail
The financial redress scheme for postmasters convicted as a result of the flawed Horizon IT system has launched

The Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS) was designed by the Justice for Postmasters alliance (JFSA) and Freeths, the national law firm that secured the historic High Court victory for its 555 sub-postmaster clients, exposing Britain’s largest miscarriage of justice. It is aimed at postmasters who were wrongly convicted and have not yet received compensation.

James Hartley, partner and national head of dispute resolution at Freeths, said: ‘We remain focused on achieving full and fair compensation for the postmasters who we acted for in the successful high court proceedings.

‘We want to ensure that everyone is properly compensated to help them recover from the devastating consequences of the Post Office Horizon scandal.’

Those who are eligible for the HCRS will have either managed or worked (with or without an employment contract) in a Post Office branch that was using or had installed the Horizon system. They must have been convicted between 23 September 1996 and 31 December 2018 of offences including false accounting, theft or fraud (including conspiracy to commit these offences).

Applicants must have been based in England, Wales or Northern Ireland as Scotland has a separate system. Relatives of deceased victims are also able to apply.

Sir Alan Bates, the former subpostmaster who led the JFSA and whose painstaking work to prove the Post Office’s accusations wrong was the subject of the ITV drama Mr Bates v The Post Office, said: ‘It has taken a long time to get to this point, but now is the opportunity for all eligible people to come forward, clear your names and seek financial redress.

‘So I urge and recommend that you contact Freeths to check your eligibility and pursue your claims.’

Freeths can be contacted about the scheme at OverTurnedConvictionTeam@freeths.co.uk.

Issue: 8082 / Categories: Legal News , Compensation
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll