All Post Office Horizon victims entitled to free legal advice for first time

"All victims of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal seeking compensation will now be entitled to free legal advice, the government has announced. The change could potentially have a major effect on the size of the payouts some victims are able to achieve. It is one of a number of improvements to the compensation schemes available to victims, made in response to the first report from the public inquiry into the scandal, widely described as one of the UK's worst ever miscarriages of justice."

"More than 900 sub-postmasters were prosecuted after the faulty Horizon computer system made it look like money was missing from their branch accounts. Hundreds of others poured their own savings into their branch to make up apparent shortfalls in order to avoid prosecution. Making the announcement, Business Secretary Peter Kyle said there was 'clearly more to do to bring justice to those affected' and accepting the recommendations was a 'crucial step' towards doing this."

"There are four compensation schemes for victims in various circumstances, but they have been criticised for being too slow and complicated and for only paying out fractions of the claims made. Changes announced by the government on Thursday mean that victims who have sought compensation through the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS) - which accounts for more than half of the compensation claims paid out so far - are now eligible for government-funded legal advice."

The government has extended free, government-funded legal advice to all victims of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal seeking compensation, including those who used the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS). More than 900 sub-postmasters were prosecuted after the faulty Horizon system made accounts appear short, and hundreds covered apparent shortfalls from personal savings to avoid prosecution. The changes respond to recommendations from the first public inquiry report, which described the scandal as one of the UK's worst miscarriages of justice. The government has accepted nearly all inquiry recommendations specific to Horizon, and has committed to a new appeals process for HSS claimants who accepted fixed payouts.

Read at www.bbc.com