Post Office employees who were wrongfully convicted of theft and false accounting, thanks to the flawed Horizon accounting software, will receive £600,000 each in
compensation, according to a government announcement. Over 700 branch managers faced criminal convictions due to inaccuracies in the accounting software that falsely indicated missing funds.
As of now, 86 convictions have been overturned. The Post Office minister emphasized that this compensation offer has no strings attached. The compensation is intended for postmasters whose convictions were based on the now discredited Horizon IT system and is part of the process of settling their claims.
For those postmasters who have already received initial compensation payments or settled with the Post Office for an amount less than £600,000, the difference will be paid to ensure fair compensation.
The government's goal with this offer is to bring a resolution to the scandal that has plagued the Post Office. Postmasters will continue to receive financial support to cover their legal fees, and those who choose not to accept this offer can proceed with the existing process.
However, some victims of the Horizon Scandal argue that £600,000 is insufficient to compensate for the immense suffering they endured. Noel Thomas, who was wrongly imprisoned for false accounting in 2006 and had his conviction overturned, expressed that it's impossible to put a price on what he and his family have endured. Many victims have experienced severe financial losses, reputational damage, and other hardships. Some have even lost their properties.
While the government claims to have erred on the side of generosity, it acknowledges that for some, this compensation may not be adequate. If individuals believe their claims warrant more than £600,000, they are encouraged to follow the standard procedures to seek fair compensation.
So far, £21 million has been disbursed in compensation to postmasters who have had their convictions overturned. This compensation scheme is one of three established as the scandal unfolded.
The Post Office Horizon scandal is regarded as one of the most extensive miscarriages of justice in the history of the UK. Between 2000 and 2014, 736 sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses were prosecuted, averaging about one per week, based on information from the flawed Horizon computer system.
Many of these individuals faced prison sentences for false accounting and theft, leading to financial ruin and social isolation. Some have even passed away. The Horizon inquiry, tasked with investigating the scandal, is expected to conclude its work in 2024.
In a recent development, Nick Read, the head of the Post Office, agreed to return his entire bonus payment of £54,400 for his participation in the inquiry. Photo by My another account (talk), Wikimedia commons.