Post Office Horizon victims provided £600,000 of compensation

The authorities has introduced a brand new fastened sum cost for victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal in an effort to offer faster compensation.

An award of £600,000 is on supply to the 86 postmasters who’ve had their convictions over turned after defective Horizon software program made it seem they have been stealing.

Anyone who has confirmed they have been falsely imprisoned as a part of the scandal can take the cost as an alternative of going by the total evaluation of their loss. The solely requirement is for the sufferer to show that they had their conviction overturned.

An inquiry into the scandal started final 12 months and affected postmasters can apply for compensation.

But that course of “can take time because these things are complicated”, enterprise minister Kevin Hollinrake mentioned within the Commons on Monday.

Mr Hollinrake added that is “a much quicker way to compensation”.

“If you suppose your declare is value greater than £600,000 then you’ll be able to nonetheless undergo the traditional route.

“The good thing about this is because some people will inevitably take this route, it will take more people out of the queue so the full assessment will take less time as well. It’s a really win-win on every level for people who have suffered.”

Accepting the supply will keep away from “months” of assessments and interesting legal professionals, Mr Hollinrake mentioned. Instead, it is going to be “a quick and easy process”.

How lengthy the supply is open for has but to be labored out by authorities.

Mr Hollinrake was requested, by Sarah Jones shadow minister for business and decarbonisation, if compensation can be greater if victims undergo the total scheme.

Many postmasters are but to hunt an overturning of their conviction. Hundreds of individuals are thought to have been wrongly been convicted.