UK Government Pledges Compensation for Postmasters Affected by Faulty Capture Software

Ministers acknowledge accounting errors caused by the pre-Horizon system and commit to delivering justice despite significant challenges.

The government has announced plans to compensate sub-postmasters impacted by the Capture accounting system, used in Post Office branches from 1992 to 1999.
An independent report concluded that Capture likely caused accounting shortfalls, leading to wrongful accusations and convictions of theft and false accounting.
Efforts to determine the scope of compensation face challenges, including lost evidence, deceased claimants, and the system's multiple versions.
Ministers have tasked the Post Office with reviewing historical records to identify affected individuals and forwarding cases to the Criminal Cases Review Commission for further investigation.
Over £500 million has already been paid to victims of the subsequent Horizon system scandal, with officials aiming to avoid past mistakes in compensation processes.