The Post Office is urging the government to extend the benefit of the doubt to over 1,000 former subpostmasters seeking compensation. These claimants haven’t received any proof that errors in the Horizon system led to their shortfalls.
They’re after a £75,000 fixed payment from the Post Office’s Horizon Shortfall Scheme, aimed at compensating those affected by the Horizon scandal. This scheme, originally part of the High Court’s 2018/19 ruling, confirmed that unexplained accounting issues caused by the Horizon system wrongly implicated subpostmasters, forcing many to repay funds they never owed. The scheme is meant for individuals who weren’t convicted of crimes but faced financial losses due to these errors. Initially, the £75,000 payment was for members of the group litigation order, but it expanded to include additional claimants last March.
After ITV’s dramatization of the scandal earlier this year, more former subpostmasters are seeking compensation. However, a source indicated that many claimants remain in a state of limbo because the Post Office can’t prove that Horizon caused their financial losses. As a solution, they’re promoting a policy that gives these claimants the benefit of the doubt.
The Post Office shared with Computer Weekly that they’re collaborating closely with the government to assess the HSS Fixed Sum Offer claims where they haven’t confirmed Horizon shortfalls yet. The government acknowledged the situation, stating they’re treating each case individually and will inform claimants of the next steps soon.
The Business and Trade Select Committee previously suggested changes that would provide claimants with a greater benefit of the doubt, but those ideas didn’t pass. Liam Byrne, the committee chair, voiced concerns about the ongoing delays, stressing that too many former subpostmasters are still waiting for justice. He pointed out that some have lost their lives before receiving any compensation.
Byrne highlighted the dire situations faced by those who suffered under false accusations, underscoring the injustice they experienced while striving to clear their names. He urged the government to take the committee’s recommendations seriously and reconsider their response.
The scandal first emerged when Computer Weekly reported on it back in 2009, shedding light on the accounts of several subpostmasters and the severe issues tied to the Horizon software, marking it as one of the most significant miscarriages of justice in British history.