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Post Office statement on appeals of historical convictions
The Court of Appeal today (25th July 2022) formally overturned five convictions in appeals uncontested by Post Office. The cases, from between 2004 and 2013, relate to convictions in Crown Courts in which Post Office acted as prosecutor. Applications for permission to appeal were made to the Court of Appeal earlier this year.
The Court will provide written Judgment at a later date.
The total number of convictions overturned in appeals unopposed by Post Office is now 80.
A Post Office spokesperson said:
“Post Office is sincerely sorry for the failures of the past and we are taking determined action to right the wrongs suffered by those affected.
“Our priority is to ensure that there is meaningful compensation for victims and that such events can never happen again.”
Post Office has contacted the majority of people with relevant convictions in cases it prosecuted between 1999 and 2015, although there are a very small number of people who have not yet been successfully traced. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the independent body that investigates potential miscarriages of justice, has additionally contacted people who had not so far responded to Post Office. More details can be found on their website here: Post Office Cases - Challenging a Conviction - Criminal Cases Review Commission (ccrc.gov.uk)
Compensation
In advance of full and final compensation, Post Office makes interim payments of up to £100,000 as swiftly as possible for people whose Horizon-related convictions are overturned. These payments are normally made within 28 days of accepted offers.
Post Office is working to provide full, fair and final settlements as soon as possible and welcomed the Government’s recent announcement on actions it is taking to support this. These include enabling payments of agreed elements of claims, such as loss of earnings, to be made wherever possible whilst other outstanding matters are resolved.
Post Office and a number of the postmasters agreed to the process of Early Neutral Evaluation, being conducted by former Supreme Court Judge, Lord Dyson on issues relating to non-pecuniary damages such as loss of liberty or impacts on mental health.
Fundamental reform
Over the past two years, Post Office has undertaken a programme of significant changes to the ways in which it works with postmasters and branch managers.
Two Non-Executive Director Postmasters, elected by other postmasters, now sit on the Post Office Board, to influence strategy and ensure the business’s direction is rooted in the reality of postmaster business experience. A current postmaster was also appointed to a new Director role leading on postmaster engagement.
Significant operational improvements have continued, based on postmaster and branch staff feedback, in every part of the business from initial appointment and training through to daily transactions accounting.
Note to editors:
Post Office has identified a total of 706 historical convictions in cases it prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 in which Horizon computer evidence might have featured. To date, a total of 122 appeals have been completed by the Courts and 80 convictions overturned in unopposed appeals. In addition, there has been one acquittal on 18 November 2021 at Southwark Crown Court in which the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) acted as prosecutor, not Post Office.
Appeals of historical cases in which Post Office acted as prosecutor began in 2020 with referrals by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). The appeals followed the ‘Horizon Issues’ Judgment in group civil litigation in December 2019.
More information on progress of appeals and compensation can be found on our website here: https://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/en/historical-matters/historical-matters-progress/historical-convictions-and-compensation-information-on-progress/
