Post Office Scandal: our first priority is that full, fair and final compensation is provided
Today (Monday 14 February) the oral hearings begin at the public inquiry led by Sir Wyn Williams into the Post Office Horizon IT scandal. Sir Wyn will hear first-hand testimony from Postmasters whose lives have been deeply affected by this scandal.
A Post Office spokesperson said: “The Post Office is sincerely sorry for the impact of the Horizon scandal on the lives of victims and their families and we are in no doubt about the human cost.
“The Inquiry’s hearings enable many of those who were most deeply affected by Post Office’s past failings to voice their experiences and their testimonies must and will ensure all lessons are learned so that such events can never happen again.
“In addressing the past, our first priority is that full, fair and final compensation is provided and we are making good progress.
“The overwhelming majority of the 72 people who have had convictions overturned have each received interim compensation payments of £100,000 and, following Government funding announced in December, we are working on final settlements. We are also continuing to take determined action to provide assistance to anyone who wishes to challenge their conviction.
“Separately, for other postmasters, compensation is being paid through the Historical Shortfall Scheme and over a third who applied have received offers, the vast majority of which have been accepted and paid. Offers and payments are continuing to be made every week.
“We have made significant reforms to forge a new relationship with current postmasters. Changes include two serving postmasters, elected by the postmaster network, appointed as Non-Executive Director postmasters on the Post Office Board to ensure the business is rooted in the reality of postmaster experience.
“Post Office is openly and transparently assisting the Inquiry in its important work to determine what went wrong in the past and to provide, as much as possible, closure for those affected.”
