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CCRC Refers First Capture-Based Post Office Conviction to Court of Appeal

Prompted by a long-hidden expert report on Capture’s flaws, the referral lays groundwork for overturning dozens of wrongful convictions.

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Overview

  • The CCRC formally referred the 1998 conviction of sub-postmistress Patricia Owen on abuse-of-process grounds after finding that flawed Capture software produced unreliable accounting data.
  • A long-suppressed 1998 expert report uncovering significant bugs in the Post Office’s in-house software was unearthed earlier this year and was key to the referral decision.
  • The CCRC is actively reviewing 27 additional Capture-linked cases, with three more in preparatory stages, under the government’s newly announced redress scheme.
  • The Post Office issued an apology for past failings and pledged full cooperation with the CCRC and the compensation process for affected sub-postmasters.
  • Victims’ lawyer Neil Hudgell called the referral "hugely pivotal" and said it offers hope for dozens of other sub-postmasters wrongfully prosecuted over Capture errors.