London, United Kingdom – Ministers are set to convene to discuss potential solutions for exonerating hundreds of sub-postmasters who were wrongfully convicted in the Post Office Horizon scandal. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk plans to meet with Minister for the Post Office Kevin Hollinrake on Monday to review options for supporting the victims of the scandal. The government’s response comes in light of renewed attention to the issue, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stating that the government is exploring ways to right the wrongs suffered by those affected.
In the Post Office Horizon scandal, over 700 branch managers were convicted of false accounting, theft, and fraud based on faulty software. Former minister Sir David Davis has proposed the idea of a “mass appeal,” allowing convicted sub-postmasters to challenge their convictions collectively. He argued that the cases relied on the falsehood that only the postmasters and mistresses had access to their computers, which has since been proven untrue.
The Post Office, which is fully owned by the government, acted as both the prosecutor and the source of the flawed evidence in these cases between 1999 and 2015. As a result, many sub-postmasters were wrongly imprisoned and suffered financial ruin, while some even passed away. The victims of this scandal have been fighting to have their convictions overturned and secure adequate compensation for the losses they incurred due to the Horizon accounting software errors.
While there is a growing demand for accountability, there are concerns about the potential consequences of a mass exoneration. Tracey Felsted, who was wrongfully convicted at the age of 19, cautioned against overturning all the convictions without thorough consideration. She expressed the need to distinguish between legitimate appeals and those cases where a crime was indeed committed.
To date, 93 convictions have been overturned, with only 30 victims receiving full and final settlements. However, 54 cases have resulted in convictions being upheld or appeals being denied. The slow pace of quashing convictions and providing compensation has raised concerns among government officials. The Horizon Compensation Advisory Board has called for the overturning of all convictions related to theft and false accounting accusations against Post Office staff.
As the government faces mounting pressure to expedite the resolution of this miscarriage of justice, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk and Minister for the Post Office Kevin Hollinrake will consult with government lawyers to explore mechanisms for timely action. One option being considered is the involvement of the Crown Prosecution Service and its lawyers in the appeal process, replacing the Post Office.
Various parliamentary campaigners, including Labour MP Kevan Jones and Conservative MP Sir David Davis, hope to address the issue in the House of Commons. The ongoing public inquiry into the scandal and the Metropolitan Police’s investigation into potential fraud offenses committed by the Post Office provide additional avenues for uncovering the truth and ensuring accountability.
In conclusion, the British government is actively considering ways to address the injustices suffered by sub-postmasters in the Post Office Horizon scandal. With a focus on overturning wrongful convictions and providing fair compensation, ministers are reviewing options to rectify the miscarriage of justice. The government’s actions come amid growing public outcry and demands for accountability.