After years of battling a faulty computer system that wrongly accused sub-postmasters across the UK, those convicted in Scotland as part of the Post Office Horizon scandal will be cleared, says First Minister Humza Yousaf. Up to 100 sub-postmasters were prosecuted in Scotland as part of the scandal that saw more than 700 people across the UK charged with embezzlement. The convictions will be overturned under new laws being introduced by the UK government, which could be extended to Scotland via a Legislative Consent Motion.
Mr. Yousaf wants to ensure that victims get justice as quickly as possible, describing a motion as the “easiest and fastest” solution among several possible routes to exonerating those who were falsely prosecuted for wrongdoing. In England and Wales, the Post Office acted as prosecutor, but in Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) had jurisdiction over all cases. Despite an ongoing inquiry, the matter only resurfaced as an issue of public concern after the recent ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office aired.
While only two Scottish convictions have been overturned so far, the Crown Office supplied figures suggesting that up to 100 convictions may be overturned. A Crown Office spokesperson revealed that the organization was aware of potential problems with the Horizon IT system in May 2013. The former justice secretary, Mr. Yousaf, has said that he was not made aware of the system’s issues during his tenure.
The Post Office branch managers were charged with a range of offences between 1999 and 2015, including theft and fraud. People such as Louise Dar and Myra Philp lost their businesses and reputations due to the fallout from the scandal; however, the Scottish government’s decision to overturn convictions has been welcomed by former victims. Some have called for compensation for their losses, particularly for those not convicted but still deeply impacted economically and emotionally by the scandal
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