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Post Office scandal: Postmasters to get up to £100,000 Post Office scandal: Postmasters to get up to £100,000
(32 minutes later)
Subpostmasters who were wrongly convicted of offences during the Post Office Horizon scandal are to receive interim compensation of up to £100,000, the government has announced. Subpostmasters wrongly convicted of offences in a Post Office IT scandal will get interim compensation of up to £100,000, the government has said.
As of this week, a total of 57 former subpostmasters have had their convictions quashed - with more due in court over the coming months. As of this week, a total of 57 former sub-postmasters have had their convictions quashed - with more due in court over the coming months.
More people have been affected by the scandal than in any other miscarriage of justice in the UK.More people have been affected by the scandal than in any other miscarriage of justice in the UK.
The government has agreed to fund the initial payments.
Those affected can still seek extra compensation at a later date if they take their cases through the civil courts.
'Post Office took us to hell and back but we won'
Post Office scandal: More postmasters cleared
Why were hundreds of sub-postmasters prosecuted?
Postal Affairs Minister Paul Scully said: "The suffering and distress these postmasters and their families have gone through cannot be overstated. While nothing will make up for the years of pain they faced after this appalling injustice, I hope this initial step provides a measure of comfort.
"The Post Office has started to turn a corner in terms of dealing with its past mistakes - and this government will support them in doing so wherever possible."
'Important step'
There were more than 700 prosecutions based on evidence from the Horizon software system.
Hundreds of people who ran Post Office branches were subsequently convicted of various offences, including theft and false accounting, when the system was used.
The Horizon system is designed to record the transactions carried out in a post office branch
Following the convictions some of these former postmasters went to prison, were shunned by their communities, and struggled to secure work. Some lost their homes and even failed to get insurance owing to their convictions. Some have since died.
However, the IT was found to have bugs and defects that left a black hole in accounts.
Following a series of court cases, many have received some civil compensation and some have had their convictions overturned.
The Post Office said the interim payments would be offered to those who were "badly failed" whilst final compensation arrangements were established.
Its chief executive, Nick Read, said: "Ensuring compensation is made as quickly as possible is a priority for Post Office.
"Whilst we cannot change the past, this is an important step towards meaningful compensation for victims and we will offer payments as soon as possible."
The Post Office is contacting postmasters and will aim to make an offer for an interim payment within 28 days of receiving an application from those whose overturned convictions relied on Horizon evidence.