Post Office welcomes Government funding to be able to make interim payments for overturned convictions in ‘Horizon cases’

Post Office today welcomed the Government’s announcement of funding support to be able to expedite interim payments of up to £100,000 for individuals whose convictions have been overturned where Horizon evidence was essential to the prosecution.

The payments will be offered whilst final compensation arrangements are established.

Post Office Chief Executive, Nick Read, said:

“Ensuring compensation is made as quickly as possible is a priority for Post Office. I welcome the Government’s support to enable these interim payments that begin to provide some redress to people who were badly failed.

“Whilst we cannot change the past, this is an important step towards meaningful compensation for victims and we will offer payments as soon as possible.”

The Post Office is contacting the representatives of people making claims following the overturning of their convictions. The aim is to provide offers within 28 days of applications for interim payments being received. Payments will be made as soon as possible following acceptance of offers.

Note to Editors

For final compensation, Post Office is proposing Alternative Dispute Resolution arrangements which aim to facilitate the swift quantification and resolution of compensation claims. But interim payments announced today do not prevent people from bringing civil claims through the Courts.

Appeals against convictions in historical Post Office prosecutions began following the ‘Horizon Issues’ Judgment in group civil litigation in 2019. To date 59 convictions have been overturned in appeals unopposed by the Post Office.

In overturning convictions, ‘Horizon cases’ have been termed by the Court of Appeal as those where the reliability of the Horizon system was essential to the prosecution and conviction.