Victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal are being urged to come forward to find out if they are eligible for compensation under a new scheme.
Law firm Freeths is advising postmasters and other people who are among the hundreds whose criminal convictions are being overturned as a result of the flawed Horizon IT system. The launch of the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS) will benefit those who have had to live with wrongful convictions for years and have not yet received compensation after the original High Court rulings secured by Freeths and Justice for Postmasters Alliance (JFSA).
Freeths launched the landmark High Court victory for its 555 sub-postmaster clients, which exposed Britain's largest miscarriage of justice and led to the quashing of hundreds of criminal convictions and the ongoing public enquiry being established. The legal team was also appointed to consult with Government to support the design and implementation of the GLO scheme to award further compensation to the 555 postmasters who succeeded in the High Court.
- Read More: Sunderland Horizon victim tells how the Post Office scandal pushed her to the brink of death
James Hartley, partner and national head of dispute resolution at Freeths, said: "We remain focused on achieving full and fair compensation for the postmasters who we acted for in the successful high court proceedings. The Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme gives us the opportunity to help those who have not yet been compensated following the Horizon scandal. We want to ensure that everyone is properly compensated to help them recover from the devastating consequences of the Post Office Horizon scandal."
Sir Alan Bates, who has been at the forefront of the campaign to secure justice for sub-postmasters affected by the scandal, said: "It has taken a long time to get to this point, but now is the opportunity for all eligible people to come forward, clear your names and seek financial redress. So I urge and recommend that you contact Freeths to check your eligibility and pursue your claims. Freeths, through its work on the GLO and the GLO Compensation Scheme, has a deep understanding of the issues affecting sub-postmasters and those who have worked in Post Office branches, and will offer the support needed to guide you through the process."
Those who are eligible for the HCRS will have:
- Either managed or worked (with or without an employment contract) in a Post Office branch that was using or had installed the Horizon system
- Been convicted between 23 September 1996 and 31 December 2018 of offences including false accounting, theft or fraud (including conspiracy to commit these offences)
- Been based in England, Wales or Northern Ireland (Scotland has a separate system)
- Relatives of deceased victims who have sadly died are also able to apply
Freeths can be contacted on OverTurnedConvictionTeam@freeths.co.uk
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