A previous employee of the post office who spearheaded a movement to combat unjust convictions brought about by the Post Office is urging for expedited compensation for the affected individuals following the airing of an ITV drama depicting the scandal.
On Friday, the Metropolitan police announced that the Post Office is the subject of a criminal investigation for possible fraud related to the Horizon scandal.
Fifty additional individuals potentially affected have reached out to lawyers following the airing of the ITV show “Mr Bates vs the Post Office.” This includes five individuals seeking to challenge their convictions.
Neil Hudgell, an attorney who has assisted 73 individuals who were previously convicted in connection to the scandal, stated that the figures were continuously rising.
The individual stated that over 60 people have come forward. They also mentioned a notable rise in the amount of children coming forward for their deceased parents.
On Saturday evening, a request to revoke Paula Vennells’ CBE, former head of the Post Office, had exceeded its initial goal of 800,000 signatures and was raised to a new goal of 900,000. Vennells held the position of chief executive during the time when postmasters were falsely prosecuted.
Alan Bates, speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today program on Saturday, stated that the four-episode drama had played a significant role in bringing attention back to the issue. He expressed his hope that this could potentially expedite the compensation process for those affected.
“I believe it has had a significant impact on the campaign,” he stated. “It has reignited the entire issue, and we hope to find resolution for the remaining issues.”
The program depicts the wrongful conviction of over 700 post office branch managers for crimes such as theft, false accounting, and fraud. This was due to faulty Horizon accounting software that falsely indicated missing funds from their branches.
It has been stated to be the largest injustice in the history of the UK, and a government investigation is currently in progress.
When questioned about why the victims may have waited until now to come forward, Bates suggested that some individuals may not have been aware of the ongoing issues during the years of activism.
However, I believe that the courage of the victims who have come forward and been identified may provide comfort and encouragement for others to speak out.
Hudgell expressed gratitude for the opportunity to care for numerous respectable, diligent, and truthful individuals who are the backbone of this nation. As lawyers, it is our duty to make a positive impact, but they are the real champions in all of this.
According to the agreements outlined in their contracts, individuals like Bates, who managed a post office in the coastal town of Llandudno in northern Wales, were responsible for any monetary losses incurred. The Post Office required them to reimburse the funds or risk being shut down, facing legal action, or being subject to a lawsuit.
Numerous individuals were imprisoned or faced financial ruin, resulting in the loss of their homes. Tragically, at least four individuals took their own lives. Bates asserted that approximately 60 individuals had passed away while awaiting compensation.
Lee Castleton, a previous operator of a post office in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, stated that his family was greatly affected by the situation. The Post Office demanded that Castleton repay £25,000 due to supposed discrepancies caused by the malfunctioning Horizon software. His unsuccessful attempt to dispute the debt resulted in costs of £300,000 and bankruptcy.
He shared with Times Radio: “We faced rejection in Bridlington. We were verbally attacked in public. Our daughter experienced bullying. She was spat on by a young boy on the school bus because he believed her father to be a thief who took money from elderly individuals.”
Hudgell, the executive chair of Hudgell Solicitors, told the PA Media news agency his clients welcomed the news of the Met investigation. “The drama has elevated public awareness to a whole new level. The British public and their overwhelming sympathy for the plight of these poor people has given some the strength to finally come forward.
The numbers continue to rise daily, but there are still many more to account for. As of yesterday, we had 50 and today we are approaching another 20.
Bates stated that the vehicle had been a great tool for spreading the message.
“I believe the current delay is due to the issue of compensation or financial restitution… The main issue is expediting the bureaucratic process, which is causing a delay in payments for these individuals. It is imperative that they motivate their officials to resolve this promptly.”
The government is making efforts to expedite compensation for operators who are still awaiting it, according to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in an interview with BBC Breakfast.
He stated that we aim to complete this task as quickly as possible. With that in mind, we will thoroughly investigate all options to expedite the process of compensating individuals.
The report was supported by contributions from PA Media.
Source: theguardian.com
