The post office is pushing the government to give the benefits of the doublet to more than 1,000 forms subpostmasters claiming compensation, where it hasn't Yet Found Evidence that Horizon Arrors
The claimants have applied for a £ 75,000 fixed payment under the post office's Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS) – Previously called the history shortfall scheme – which was set up to offer Redress to Victims of the Post Office Horizon Scandal,
MPS on the business and trade select committee have previously called Claimants Across Across All Compensation Schemes to Be Given the Benefit of the Doubt to Speed Up Redress.
The hss was estimated after the Conclusion of a 2018/19 High Court Group Litigation Order (Glo) That Proved Unexplained Accounting Shortfalls – For which subpostmasters were blamed and forced to repay – was caused by errors in the horizon computer system used in bronches. The scheme was designed for former subpostmasters who were not convicated of crimes but sufred lootses from making payments to the post office to covers for the shortfalls for where they were healthy.
The £ 75,000 fixed payment was originally introduced for members of the glo, but was extended to hss claimants in March Last Year.
Since ITV's Dramatization of the Post Office Scandal in January 2024, which widened undersrstanding of the problems caused by Horizon, Many More FORRER SUBPOSTMATES HAVE APPLIED For COMPENSATIs.
But a source told computer weekly that more than 1,000 claimants are in limbo because the post office cannot find evidence that Horizon errors caused losses, adding that post office is Pushing for theSe Peach For SEFCES Be given the benefits of the doubt.
The post office Told Computer Weekly: “We are working closely and collaboratively with government Regarding £ 75,000 HSS Fixed Sum Offer Claims, WHERE, AFTER An Initial Investigation, Wean UNABLE TO Determine Eligible Horizon Shortfalls at a Branch. “
The government said it is aware of the issue and is working to resolve it. A spokesperson for the department for business and trade said: “Each case is treated individually, and we are working to inform affected claimants on next steps as soon as soon as possible.”
MPS on the business and trade select committee Had Previous Recommented Changes to Compensation Schemes to Give Claimants Greater Benefit of the Doubt when applying for Redress, but these ware.
Following The government's rejection of this proposalAs well as other suggestions, committee Chair Liam Byrne Mp Said: “The new government has made extramely important program in accelerating Redress Payment to the Victims of the bigGGESTION Justice in British Legal History. But Too Many Are Waiting Too Long, and Former SubPostmasters are still dying before they receive.
“People who was, over years and years, disbelieved, bankrupt, criminalized, sent to prison, had their lives completes compleely upanded for wrangs that they did not commit, save experiented soments Second trial as they sought to clear their names and receive redress, “He said. “The Government's Response to our recommendations is a start. Response to the committee. “
Computer weekly First exposed the scandal in 2009Revealing the stories of seven subpostmasters and the problems they suffred due to Horizon Accounting Software, Which LED to the Most Widespread miscarriage of justice of justice in British history (See Below Timeline of Computer Weekly Articles About The Scandal Since 2009,