UK authorities dangers ‘perpetuating’ Publish Workplace injustice by way of response to Seize appeals
If the federal government fails to overturn convictions of subpostmasters that used the Publish Workplace Seize system, it’s going to perpetuate a “most ghastly injustice”, a peer has mentioned.
Throughout a debate within the Home of Lords, James Arbuthnot instructed the federal government that failure to overturn the convictions will delay the injustice.
Arbuthnot, a long-time campaigner for subpostmasters who suffered by the hands of the Publish Workplace after they skilled unexplained shortfalls on the notorious Horizon system, needs Seize customers to be given the identical path to attraction convictions as Horizon customers.
In Might 2024, following the printed of the ITV dramatisation of the Publish Workplace scandal, the federal government launched laws to overturn about 900 convictions based mostly on proof from Horizon.
Later that 12 months, the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board wrote to the secretary of state for justice urging the federal government to additionally legislate to overturn convictions of subpostmasters based mostly on the Seize system.
The influential group, which incorporates Arbuthnot and Kevan Jones, who each campaigned for victims of the Publish Workplace Horizon scandal for a few years, needs related laws to that used to overturn wrongful convictions based mostly on the controversial Horizon system.
A month earlier than the group wrote to the secretary of state, an evaluation by specialist forensic investigators concluded there’s a “cheap chance” that the Publish Workplace’s Seize software program brought about accounting shortfalls for which the customers have been blamed.
CCRC attraction
However even after this report, these convicted have been made to attraction by way of the Felony Circumstances Assessment Fee (CCRC).
Arbuthnot mentioned this was unfair, and instructed the federal government: “Provided that the Publish Workplace’s behaviour in direction of the Seize subpostmasters was each bit as unhealthy as that in direction of the Horizon subpostmasters, and that we can not anticipate Seize subpostmasters to have retained paperwork for over 25 years to current to the CCRC, will the minister acknowledge that for us to fail to overturn the Seize convictions perpetuates essentially the most ghastly injustice?”
Throughout the debate, Jones, fellow peer and campaigner for justice for subpostmasters, agreed: “There are 29 instances of people who have been prosecuted. The federal government’s stance has been to refer them to the CCRC, which I don’t suppose is the suitable manner of doing it.”
Jones, as an MP, was the primary to spotlight the plight of subpostmasters who suffered on account of unexplained losses whereas utilizing Seize within the Nineteen Nineties, in the identical manner as those who used the Horizon system that adopted it.
Peer Jason Stockwood, minister of state within the Division for Enterprise and Commerce and the Treasury, mentioned: “The noble Lord will know that the laws adopted over 100 profitable Horizon conviction appeals by way of the present processes. Nevertheless, as he mentions, no convictions associated to Seize have been overturned to this point. Nevertheless, we should subsequently enable the impartial judiciary to contemplate security of convictions by way of the established course of, and we proceed to assist the work of the CCRC.”
One case has thus far been despatched by the CCRC to the Courtroom of Attraction. In October 2025, the attraction of Patricia Owen, who died in 2003, was moved to the following stage. Owen pleaded not responsible to the theft of £6,000, however in 1998, was convicted and sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 2 years, at Canterbury Crown Courtroom.
However issues are shifting slowly. In July final 12 months, it emerged that the CCRC had determined Owen’s case can be referred for attraction, however it didn’t previously proceed till October. Owen’s household nonetheless await a call.
Seize victims additionally discover themselves within the gradual lane in relation to monetary redress, with many claiming they’re being handled as “second-class victims”.
There are additionally requires Seize customers to be handled in the identical manner as former Horizon customers in relation to monetary redress.
Seize redress scheme
Final 12 months, a redress scheme was established for many who suffered whereas utilizing Seize, however it didn’t match the redress schemes for Horizon customers.
The Seize redress scheme is providing preliminary funds of £10,000, with ultimate award bands as much as £300,000, with “distinctive instances” receiving funds above the higher restrict.
The newest authorities figures reveal that 153 functions for redress have been made, 43 greater than a month earlier. A complete of 30 have thus far been deemed eligible – 10 greater than the earlier month’s figures – and 123 are being assessed. Up to now, 5 instances have been settled financially, two have accepted provides and are awaiting fee, 5 are contemplating provides, and 18 are ready for a proposal.
Laptop Weekly is conscious that, thus far, two instances are being thought-about “distinctive”.
Declare on pause
One former subpostmaster and Seize redress claimant has put his declare on pause after being provided simply 7% of his professionally calculated declare. As revealed by Laptop Weekly, Lee Bowerman, former subpostmaster in South Wales, misplaced his enterprise greater than 30 years in the past.
In a letter to Division of Enterprise and Commerce minister Blair McDougall, he wrote: “All through each assembly, with out exception, we have been explicitly assured that there can be full parity with the Horizon redress schemes. These assurances have been clear and repeated.
“They coated parity of method to heads of loss, consequential losses, remedy of historic loss, valuation ideas, recognition of extended hurt and the attraction course of.”
Bowerman formally requested his software be positioned on pause “in mild of the intense considerations”.
Up to now, over £1.4bn has been paid to greater than 11,300 folks that suffered on account of faults within the Horizon system.
