More than £1 billion has been paid out to over 7,300 postmasters
affected by the Horizon IT scandal – one of the biggest
miscarriages of justice of our time.
This figure is a total across the Horizon-related redress
schemes, with data published by the government today (Monday 9
June).
This milestone marks the Government's ongoing commitment to
deliver redress and justice to postmasters as swiftly as
possible. Whilst Government cannot fully put right what
postmasters have been through, what is being delivered is
increased redress and ensuring the compensation process work
better than it has done previously.
Post Office Minister said:
Since entering government, it has been our priority to speed up
the delivery of compensation to victims of the Horizon Scandal
and today's milestone shows how much progress has been
made.
We are settling cases every day and getting compensation out more
quickly for the most complex cases, but the job isn't done until
every postmaster has received fair and just redress.
Since entering government, redress paid out to victims of the
Horizon Scandal has more than quadrupled to £1,039 million,
delivering on a key manifesto promise to ensure justice and
compensation are delivered swiftly for those sub-postmasters
shamefully affected by the Horizon IT scandal.
Ministers continue to review each scheme to ensure the process is
as smooth as it can be, and welcome feedback and scrutiny from
postmasters, campaigners and Parliament and recognise the
tireless campaigning in this area over many years. Reforms to
increase the roll out of redress has included the following
steps.
Since July 2024, the government has also launched the Horizon
Convictions Redress scheme - providing redress to postmasters who
had their convictions overturned by the Post Office Offences Act
(and the equivalent legislation in Scotland) and also launched
the Horizon Shortfall Scheme Appeals process.
In March, Ministers made a commitment that claims for redress
under the Post Office's Overturned Convictions scheme would be
transferred into the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and
the Post Office would cease to be involved in the administration
of redress for overturned convictions. This is something that
postmasters, campaigners and Parliamentarians have called
for. As of 3 June, these cases have all been transferred and
all future redress for these claimants will be managed by
DBT.
Other milestones include:
-
Launching the Post Office Process Review (PPR) helping to
provide redress to postmasters who suffered financial losses
caused by products, processes or policies that were designed
or delivered incorrectly.
-
Beginning Horizon Shortfall Scheme fixed-sum payments of
£75,000 for those who don't want to go through the full
assessment process.
-
Announcing the upcoming publication of a Green Paper which
will give the public the chance to have their view on the
future of Post Office.
-
Committing to develop an effective and fair redress process
for those affected by the Capture IT system.
