Victims impacted by the Post Office Horizon scandal are expressing deep dissatisfaction with the compensation procedures, labeling them as “more unfair than the original wrong,” according to a leaked letter.
Baroness Newlove, the Victims Commissioner, conveyed her astonishment to Post Office minister Blair McDougall in a memorandum. She relayed that affected postmasters found the compensation offers to be significantly inadequate and demeaning.
Characterizing the process as confrontational, the commissioner highlighted that many postmasters felt as if they were battling against an insurance firm. The leaked correspondence to Sky News emphasized that rather than providing closure, the compensation process was perceived to be as distressing as, or even more distressing than, the initial investigation and injustice.
Baroness Newlove urged the Government to refrain from employing “business-like tactics” such as presenting meager initial settlements, deeming them unsuitable for dealing with traumatized victims. She suggested that seeking further information before making an offer would be more appropriate than presenting an offer certain to offend the victim. Furthermore, she cautioned that current subpostmasters feel compelled not to pursue compensation.
The letter also pointed out that victims are displeased with the Government’s ongoing collaboration with Fujitsu, the company responsible for the faulty software. This communication was dated October 3.
Following this, the Government announced its acceptance of most recommendations, particularly regarding compensation, proposed by Horizon Inquiry chairman Sir Wyn Williams.
The scandal resulted in around 1,000 postmasters facing prosecution and conviction due to the IT system erroneously indicating cash discrepancies in their branches.
Sir Wyn’s consequential report, released in July, underscored the disastrous impact on those affected, including family members of the wrongfully accused. The report highlighted that at least 13 victims likely took their own lives directly as a consequence. Additionally, evidence suggested that approximately 59 individuals contemplated suicide due to the Horizon scandal, with the total number of affected individuals being difficult to ascertain accurately.
The report further indicated that nearly 10,000 individuals are in the process of making claims, a figure expected to rise. The inquiry report criticized the compensation schemes as flawed, noting that individuals accepted lower settlements than they were entitled to due to the Post Office’s confrontational stance.
Public outrage heightened in early 2021 following the broadcast of the ITV drama “Mr Bates Vs The Post Office,” depicting the victims’ fight for justice. In response to the leaked letter, a Post Office spokesperson stated their active support for all Post Office colleagues, especially those interacting directly with Postmasters, to encourage them to submit claims to the Horizon Shortfall Scheme if they believe they suffered losses.
Fujitsu, in a statement, confirmed their ongoing collaboration with the government to adhere to voluntary restrictions concerning bidding for new contracts during the Post Office Inquiry and discussions regarding Fujitsu’s role in compensation.
The Department for Business and Trade has been contacted by the Mirror for comments on the matter.