Post Office hopes Horizon scandal dramatisation will “encourage anyone affected..to seek compensation”

The Post Office has published all the latest compensation data relating to victims of the Horizon IT scandal for the year-end 2023.

Overturned convictions.

• The number of individuals with overturned convictions who have received full and final compensation is 25.
• The total of all compensation to date for people with overturned convictions (including interim, partial and final payments) is £30.9 million.
• In September, the UK Government announced that anyone whose conviction was overturned as it was reliant on Horizon evidence has the option of settling their claim for an upfront sum of £600,000 without the need to bring a formal claim

Horizon Shortfall Scheme.

• Offers have been made to all 2,417 current or former Postmasters in the Horizon Shortfall Scheme. The Scheme remains open and this figure excludes late applications.
• The total value of Horizon Shortfall Scheme offers made to date £107.93 million. The majority are agreed and £85.98 million has been paid.
• The number of eligible late applications that have been received is 328. There have been 228 settlement offers made to date and the total amount paid to late applicants is £5.80 million.
• · All figures are as at Friday 22 December 2023

Commenting on compensation and the ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office airing on 1 January, Nick Read, Post Office Chief Executive, said:

“Our efforts to rectify the wrongs of the past include paying full and fair compensation supported by our shareholder, the UK Government. To date, we have paid over £120 million in compensation. We hope that the ITV drama will raise further awareness and encourage anyone affected who has not yet come forward to seek the redress and compensation they deserve.”

You can view here the Chief Executive’s wider statement ahead of ITV drama Mr Bates v Post Office.

Post Office also urges anyone who believes they were wrongly convicted for any reason in a Post Office prosecution to consider an appeal. The Post Office, and separately the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), have on multiple occasions tried to contact people who may be affected. There is free, independent, and confidential help advice available from the CCRC, and separately, Citizens Advice. The Post Office continues to try and contact people who may be affected. Further information about how to come forward can be found at corporate.postoffice.co.uk/assistance