Proposed Legislation Aims to Prevent Wrongful Convictions of Victims of Post Office Scandal
Under the new legislation, affected sub-postmasters will receive compensation of £600,000.
A landmark legislation introduced by the government will provide a blanket exoneration for the wrongfully convicted sub-postmasters in the Post Office scandal.
The Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill, presented on Wednesday, aims to clear the names of hundreds of postal workers who faced convictions due to errors in the Horizon accounting software.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated, “While I know that nothing can make up for what they’ve been through, today’s legislation marks an important step forward in finally clearing their names.”
According to the proposed legislation, affected sub-postmasters will be compensated with £600,000. Postmasters who were not convicted but suffered due to the scandal will receive a redress payment of £75,000.
Related Stories
“Postmasters have been fighting for justice for years, and I hope the introduction of today’s legislation is the light at the end of the tunnel they have been waiting for,” said postal affairs minister Kevin Hollinrake.
Convictions of postmasters prosecuted by the Post Office or Crown Prosecution Service will be automatically quashed under the legislation.
Financial redress was first introduced in March 2021, and the new bill aims to expedite the process of providing rightful redress to victims.
Scotland and Northern Ireland will develop their own plans to address convictions and payouts, while Holyrood may introduce its legislation after the UK bill is passed.
The government’s approach of blanket coverage legislation has raised concerns over potentially quashing convictions of guilty individuals. However, ministers argue that this route is the most effective way to address the miscarriage of justice.
Postmasters will need to sign a legal statement confirming their innocence to receive compensation, with repercussions for fraudulent statements. The long-standing battle in the Horizon scandal has gained attention through various channels, including the ITV drama “Mr. Bates vs. the Post Office.”PA Media contributed to this report.
