Sub-postmasters in Scotland who were wrongly convicted as a
result of the Post Office Horizon scandal will be automatically
exonerated tomorrow (14 June 2024).
The Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Act received
Royal Assent today (13 June 2024) and comes into force tomorrow.
The legislation was passed in the Scottish Parliament on 30 May
2024 to deliver justice to victims as swiftly as possible and
enable them to access the UK Government financial redress scheme.
Working with the Crown Office, the Scottish Criminal Cases Review
Commission and the Post Office, the Scottish Government will
notify those affected and ensure police and court records are
amended. There is also a route for victims to bring their cases
to the attention of Ministers.
Justice Secretary has written an open letter
to sub-postmasters setting out next steps.
The Justice Secretary said:
“This legislation automatically exonerates sub-postmasters who
were convicted of crimes of dishonesty that they did not commit
due to the Post Office's faulty Horizon IT system, meaning they
are eligible to access the redress scheme.
“Of course, no amount of compensation can fully mend the lives
that were torn apart by this miscarriage of justice. I do hope,
however, that this legislation goes some way to righting the
terrible wrongs of the past.
“I will be writing to those affected to tell them their
convictions have been quashed and ensuring court records are
changed, so the victims of this scandal can have their good names
restored as quickly as possible. They have already waited too
long for justice.”
Background
The Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Act
automatically exonerates convicted sub-postmasters where the
following criteria are met:
- the conviction was for embezzlement, fraud, theft, uttering
or an ancillary offence committed between 23 September 1996 and
31 December 2018
- the person was carrying on a Post Office business, or working
in a Post Office for the purpose of a Post Office business
- the conviction was in connection with carrying on, or working
for the purpose of the Post Office business
- the Horizon system was being used for the purposes of the
Post Office business in the relevant Post Office
Those who meet the criteria and whose appeals were refused in the
High Court will also be exonerated.
Post Office Horizon
scandal: Justice Secretary's open letter to postmasters
