UK Government Introduces Bill to Quash Wrongful Post Office Convictions

The new legislation aims to address one of the nation's most significant miscarriages of justice, automatically exonerating hundreds of sub-postmasters.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the introduction of the Post Office (Horizon System) Offenses Bill, aimed at overturning wrongful convictions related to the Horizon IT scandal.
The law will automatically quash convictions for theft, fraud, and false accounting between 1996 and 2018, offering victims swift financial redress and compensation.
Victims in England and Wales will be eligible for automatic exoneration, while Scotland and Northern Ireland are developing their own plans.
The government has allocated £1 billion for compensation, with eligible victims receiving interim payments and the option for a fixed compensation payment.
Critics and legal experts express concerns over the precedent set by mass exoneration through legislation, emphasizing the need for a careful approach.