Government May Take Over Horizon Scandal Redress Schemes from Post Office

Concerns over the Post Office's handling of compensation for wrongfully convicted subpostmasters prompt government review.

The UK government is considering assuming control of the Horizon shortfall and overturned conviction redress schemes from the Post Office due to concerns about their performance.
Business Minister Gareth Thomas reported that £79 million has been paid to 232 individuals under the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme so far, but many cases remain unresolved.
An independent appeals process for the Horizon shortfall scheme is being developed, with contracts for external lawyers expected to be awarded in January 2025.
The government is also exploring additional compensation for families and employees of subpostmasters impacted by the Horizon scandal, as well as addressing issues linked to the earlier Capture IT system.
The Horizon scandal saw hundreds of subpostmasters wrongfully convicted of fraud and theft due to faulty accounting software, leading to significant personal and financial losses for many victims.