The Government has today [Monday 22 April] tabled amendments to
expand the territorial extent of the Post Office Offences Bill.
Convictions resulting from the Post Office Horizon scandal in
Northern Ireland will now be within scope.
This blanket exoneration will automatically quash convictions
brought about by the scandal, including 26 in Northern Ireland,
clearing the names of many people who have had their lives
ruined.
As in England and Wales, convictions in Northern Ireland will
need to meet a set of criteria before they are quashed,
including:
- Prosecutions brought about by the state prosecutor or the
police.
- Offences carried out in connection with Post Office business
between 1996 and 2018.
- Were for relevant offences such as theft, fraud and false
accounting.
- Were against sub-postmasters, their employees, officers,
family members or direct employees of the Post Office working in
a Post Office that used the Horizon system software.
Postal Affairs Minister said:
We always carefully consider the territorial extent of each piece
of legislation and are rigorous in our commitment to devolution.
However, it has become apparent that the Northern Ireland
Executive does not have the ability to rapidly address the 26
convictions known to be within its purview.
It has become clear that postmasters in Northern Ireland could
have their convictions quashed significantly later than those who
were convicted in England and Wales, which would be unacceptable.
This follows the decision to introduce landmark legislation –
which is making its way through parliament – to quash the
convictions of hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters wrongly
convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal. This will speed up
the financial redress process – where we are offering a £600,000
fixed sum which can be administered quickly for those who accept
it.
Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris, said:
I am pleased that the Post Office Horizon legislation
will be amended to include Northern Ireland. I've been speaking
to Minister Hollinrake, the Northern Ireland First Minister,
Deputy First Minister and Justice Minister about this important
issue regularly.
It's clear that, in the context of a recently restored Executive
and Assembly, adding Northern Ireland to this Bill is the best
way to deliver justice for the victims as quickly as possible.
That is alongside plans to enhance the financial redress for
postmasters who were not convicted, or part of legal action
against the Post Office, but who still suffered considerably due
to Horizon failures. These individuals, also known as the Horizon
Shortfall Scheme cohort, will have the option to receive a fixed
sum payment of £75,000.
Scotland has an historically separate legal jurisdiction to
England and Wales, and the Lord Advocate and Crown Office and
Procurator Fiscal service had a unique role in respect of
prosecutions in Scotland. Additionally, the Scottish Government
do not have the same kind of obligations to consult on new
legislation as in Northern Ireland or challenges resulting from
the NI Assembly not sitting for nearly two years.
The Scottish Government has already indicated that they are
bringing forward legislation and the UK Government will continue
to support them in developing their proposals to overturn all
convictions relating to the Horizon scandal.
Regardless of the UK jurisdiction in which convictions are
quashed, claimants will be entitled to financial redress which
will be delivered on a UK-wide basis by the Department for
Business and Trade.
Notes to Editors
- The Post Office Offences Bill continues its passage through
Parliament, with Committee in the House of Commons scheduled for
Monday 29 April. It is expected to receive Royal Assent as soon
as possible before Summer recess, when all convictions in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland will automatically be
quashed.
- In total, the Government has paid out £190 million to over
2,800 Post Office victims.
-
This includes:
- £39 million paid out to members of the GLO scheme.
- £111 million offered to those in the HSS scheme.
- £41 million paid out to those in the Overturned Convictions
scheme, with 103 convictions now overturned.
