The UK government will soon reveal plans to fast-track the appeals of hundreds of sub-postmasters affected by the Post Office IT scandal, according to Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake. The scandal saw 736 sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses being prosecuted due to faulty software. The technology company behind the software, Fujitsu and anyone else found responsible, should be held accountable and make any payments towards victims’ compensation, the minister said. In order to deal with those who are still waiting to clear their names, Hollinrake also stated that Justice Secretary Alex Chalk would “need to speak to senior figures in the judiciary about these options before we put them forward”.
Between 1999 and 2015, one sub-postmaster or sub-postmistress was prosecuted each week based on information from the Horizon computer system. Many claimed their innocence and alleged that they had previously raised issues with the software. Some individuals were imprisoned for false accounting and theft, leaving many financially ruined. The scandal was recently depicted in a TV drama, which resulted in heightened awareness of the issue.
The government also announced that retired judge Sir Gary Hickinbottom would chair an independent panel to oversee compensation payments to those whose convictions have been overturned. Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the justice secretary under Tony Blair, has called for legislation to be enacted as soon as possible to create a presumption of innocence for those convicted as a result of the faulty software. In contrast, former attorney general Dominic Grieve believes that new legislation would be a form of “parliamentary interference in the judicial process”. Some have called for the Criminal Cases Review Commission to investigate the cases, although this process would take longer than introducing new legislation.
Alan Bates, a former sub-postmaster who has been calling for justice for the affected individuals, believes that a resolution is closer; he has urged the government to ensure that the necessary financial redress is enacted rapidly to provide support to those affected. The campaign to strip former Post Office boss Paula Vennells of her CBE over the scandal has also gained momentum
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