Hundreds of Post Office victims to get convictions overturned

Hundreds of post office operators are to have their convictions quashed by parliament within months in an unprecedented move designed to draw a line under one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in British history.

- Peter Walker

• Sunak tells Commons law will acquit all found guilty in Horizon scandal
• Senior lawyers issue warning over danger of undermining judiciary

Senior lawyers warned, however, that the decision to pass a bill overturning so many court verdicts was constitutionally extraordinary and risked undermining the independence of the judiciary if it was seen as a precedent for future cases.

Announcing the move, less than a week after the broadcast of an ITV drama catapulted the long-running saga into the political mainstream, Rishi Sunak told the Commons the legislation would acquit all those convicted in the Horizon IT scandal.

Anyone who has a conviction overturned will be given an upfront offer of £600,000 or allowed to proceed with a detailed assessment process if they feel they are owed more.

Those who are part of a separate group litigation, who have already received some money, will be offered £75,000 each.

Setting out details of the plan to MPS, the business minister responsible for the Post Office, Kevin Hollinrake, conceded that the blanket approach could mean some people fraudulently receiving compensation but that the risk was worth it to end the long wait.

"This is one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in our nation's history," Sunak told prime minister's questions. "People who worked hard to serve their communities had their lives and their reputations destroyed through absolutely no fault of their own. The victims must get justice and compensation."

He added: "We will make sure that the truth comes to light, we right the wrongs of the past and the victims get the justice they deserve." The plan won immediate backing from Labour, meaning it will pass parliament without hindrance.