MP welcomes new Landmark Legislation to quash Horizon Scandal Convictions.
Hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters wrongly convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal will have convictions quashed following landmark legislation introduced today.
This blanket exoneration, delivered through the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill, will quash convictions brought about by erroneous Horizon evidence, clearing the names of many people who have had their lives ruined.
Affected sub-postmasters will receive an interim payment with the option of immediately taking a fixed and final offer of £600,000, so that they can finally begin to rebuild their lives.
Under the proposed Bill, convictions will be automatically quashed if they meet the following criteria:
- Were prosecuted by the Post Office or Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
- Were for offences carried out in connection with Post Office business between 1996 and 2018.
- Were for relevant offences such as theft, fraud and false accounting.
- Were against sub-postmasters, their employees, officers, family members or direct employees of the Post Office working in a Post Office that used the Horizon system software.
Paul Howell MP said:
"It is absolutely right the new landmark legislation has been introduced to quash Horizon Scandal convictions.
Sub-postmasters have campaigned tirelessly for justice in the wake of the Horizon scandal and I fully support the new legislation to support them.
We as a Government will continue to work hard and won’t rest until every victim receives the compensation they are entitled to."
Postal Affairs Minister, Kevin Hollinrake MP, said:
"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.
It is only right that postmasters have access to swift and fair compensation which is why those with overturned convictions have the option of immediately taking a fixed and final offer of £600,000 and why we are changing the rules for those in the Horizon Shortfall Scheme, so they are entitled to a £75,000 fixed sum award, bypassing the assessment process.
For those who don’t choose this option, their claims can be assessed as part of the usual scheme process, in which there is no limit to compensation.”