Former North East subpostmaster: 'New report into Horizon scandal will be damning'

There is a warning redress for subpostmasters wronged by the Post Office Horizon scandal could take another three years, according to lawyers.

Many victims are still waiting for compensation, ahead of one of the inquiry's final reports being published later today by the chairman of the Horizon IT inquiry, Sir Wyn Williams.

It will be looking at the impact on those who had their lives destroyed and compensation.

More than 900 subpostmasters were wrongfully prosecuted by the Post Office between 1999 and 2015 after faulty Horizon software made it look as though money was missing from their accounts.

Chris Head OBE is a former subpostmaster in the North East and he said: "The compensation process is far too complex. It's far too adversary or legalistic. They're saying they're going to resolve all claims by 2025 but we've heard this before; they said by the end of 2023, then summer of 2024 and then it was by March 2025.

"When someone's been affected by the scandal, you know they've been sent to prison, they've lost their home, they've lost their marriage and some people have sadly passed away before seeing redress. All of these traumatic experiences and yet they're being re-traumatised again through the actual process to get redress for what they're owed. The Government's promising full and fair redress, but it's just not happening.

"I started off at 12.5%, it went up to 20%, then 24% and then 30%, 35% and then eventually up to 36% and there's where we remain now. Two years and one month and we're only at 36% of the quantified claim. It's so problematic and there's just no end in sight.

"It's extremely stressful, tiring and draining mentally and physically. They have to continuously deal with the redress part. At least if that part was resolved for people quickly, fully and fairly, then at least people could start to rebuild their lives while they're waiting for the accountability for those responsible to be held to account.

"I think the report will be very damning of the Post Office and also the Government, who's taken over most of the schemes now, but still not a lot has changed. There's so many people that have been terribly affected by this, that have been waiting four years since they had their conviction overturned and they're still waiting. They haven't been paid, so we need the report to say that things haven't really gotten that much better."

One law firm involved in securing redress for victims, Hudgell Solicitors, said it still had more than 700 ongoing compensation cases to resolve.

Solicitor Neil Hudgell said the firm had agreed damages for more than 300 people, totalling £170 million, but said the redress process had "far too much red tape to get through".

He said: "We have seen inconsistencies between the various compensation schemes, which remain over-engineered and over-legalistic, with far too much red tape to get through.

"There has also been a repeated failure to give the benefit of the doubt to subpostmasters in appropriate circumstances.

"It's made it far too long a process for so many people who have been through so much, and are now in the latter stages of their lives.

"It has been retraumatising for many, and increasing numbers are sadly passing away without seeing redress."

Addressing how long it could take for all claims to be settled, the solicitor added: "At the current speed, we are looking at another two to three years."

Mr Hudgell said one client who was initially offered £50,000 has seen their offer rise to £500,000.

He added: "It is not a one-off glitch, but a stark illustration of a very common issue.

"It has been a painful process for all, and ended with a new appeals process being confirmed earlier this year, in recognition that many people had been under-compensated."

In a statement, the Department for Business and Trade said: "We are grateful for the inquiry's work, which has revealed the immeasurable suffering that victims of the scandal have endured.

"This Government has quadrupled the total amount paid to affected postmasters to provide them with full and fair redress, with more than £1 billion having now been paid to over 7,300 claimants."