Horizon compensation figures at year-end 2023

• In December, those with overturned convictions who have received full and final compensation rose to 25 following Government announcement of ‘upfront’ offers of £600,000
• Compensation offers have been made to all 2,417 current or former Postmasters in the Horizon Shortfall Scheme. The Scheme remains open for late applications.
• For the Overturned Convictions and Horizon Shortfall Schemes, so far £124.7 million in compensation has been paid.
• There is no cap on the amount of compensation which is able to be paid out to victims
• Post Office Chief Executive says he hopes that ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office starting on Monday 1 January 2024 “encourages anyone affected who has not yet come forward to seek the redress and compensation they deserve.”

The Post Office has today (29 December) published all the latest compensation data relating to victims of the Horizon IT scandal for the year-end 2023.

Overturned convictions.

• The number of individuals with overturned convictions who have received full and final compensation is 25.
• The total of all compensation to date for people with overturned convictions (including interim, partial and final payments) is £30.9 million.
• In September, the UK Government announcedthat anyone whose conviction was overturned as it was reliant on Horizon evidence has the option of settling their claim for an upfront sum of £600,000 without the need to bring a formal claim

Horizon Shortfall Scheme.

• Offers have been made to all 2,417 current or former Postmasters in the Horizon Shortfall Scheme. The Scheme remains open and this figure excludes late applications.
• The total value of Horizon Shortfall Scheme offers made to date £107.93 million. The majority are agreed and £85.98 million has been paid.
• The number of eligible late applications that have been received is 328. There have been 228 settlement offers made to date and the total amount paid to late applicants is £5.80 million.
• · All figures are as at Friday 22 December 2023

Commenting on compensation and the forthcoming ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office airing on 1 January, Nick Read, Post Office Chief Executive, said:

“Our efforts to rectify the wrongs of the past include paying full and fair compensation supported by our shareholder, the UK Government. To date, we have paid over £120 million in compensation. We hope that the ITV drama will raise further awareness and encourage anyone affected who has not yet come forward to seek the redress and compensation they deserve.”

You can view here the Chief Executive's wider statement ahead of ITV drama Mr Bates v Post Office.

Post Office also urges anyone who believes they were wrongly convicted for any reason in a Post Office prosecution to consider an appeal. The Post Office, and separately the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), have on multiple occasions tried to contact people who may be affected. There is free, independent, and confidential help advice available from the CCRC, and separately, Citizens Advice. The Post Office continues to try and contact people who may be affected. Further information about how to come forward can be found at corporate.postoffice.co.uk/assistance

Notes to Editor

The Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS): For current and former Postmasters who believe they experienced shortfalls related to previous versions of the Horizon system. The founding principles of the Scheme were endorsed by the legal representatives in the Group Litigation as part of its settlement.

An independent advisory panel, including forensic accountants, retail and legal experts, assesses claims and recommends fair outcomes. The panel has a discretion of fairness and may take into account any matters they consider will produce a fair result.

Claimants who are unhappy with their offer can rightly dispute it, with independent legal advice reimbursed by Post Office and an interim payment of up to 80% of the offer made to help alleviate any financial pressures. The dispute process also provides for free, independent mediation.

Post Office encourages anyone who has previously been unable to apply to the scheme to come forward as it remains open for late applications.

Overturned Convictions (OC): For people whose convictions have been overturned as they were reliant on Horizon evidence. To make sure money reaches victims as quickly as possible, Post Office pays compensation for personal (‘non-pecuniary’) damages – for example for distress, damage to reputation and personal injury - as soon as these parts of claims are settled, whilst other parts are being progressed and completed. This is in addition to interim payments of up to £163,000 made as quickly as possible following the overturning of Horizon-related convictions by the Courts.

Post Office does not have the financial resources to pay meaningful compensation and therefore its shareholder, the Government, is providing and overseeing funding support.

Group Litigation Order Scheme (GLO): The Government’s GLO Scheme is an ex-gratia claims-based scheme for postmasters who were part of the Group Litigation ‘Alan Bates and Others v Post Office Ltd’, and who do not have a conviction. Administered by the Department for Business and Trade. More details on the Government website here: Compensation scheme for Group Litigation Order case postmasters - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The £124.7 million in compensation that has been paid is made-up of £30.9 million for Overturned Convictions; £85.98 for Horizon Shortfall Scheme (original cohort) plus £2.01 million in tax top ups; £5.8 million for Horizon Shortfall Scheme (late applications) plus £0.02 million in tax top ups.

ENDS