According to a leaked letter, victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal believe that the compensation schemes are more detrimental than the original injustice they faced. Victims Commissioner Baroness Newlove expressed her astonishment at the feedback she received, stating that wronged postmasters found the compensation packages offered to them to be unacceptably low.
In a communication to Post Office minister Blair McDougall, Baroness Newlove highlighted that some postmasters perceived the compensation process as adversarial, akin to battling an insurance company. The leaked letter, disclosed to Sky News, conveyed that the compensation process failed to provide closure, with victims feeling it was as distressing as or even worse than the initial investigation and prosecution they endured.
Baroness Newlove urged the Government to avoid employing “commercial tactics” such as presenting inadequate initial offers, emphasizing that such approaches are inappropriate when dealing with traumatized individuals.
The Victims Commissioner suggested that requesting additional information before making an offer might be more beneficial than providing an offer that could offend the victim. She also cautioned that subpostmasters in service feel pressured not to seek compensation.
Blair McDougall was informed that victims are displeased with the Government’s collaboration with Fujitsu, the company responsible for the faulty software. The correspondence was dated October 3.
Subsequently, the Government announced its acceptance of most recommendations, particularly on compensation, proposed by Horizon Inquiry chairman Sir Wyn Williams.
Approximately 1,000 postmasters faced prosecution and conviction due to discrepancies caused by the IT system in their branches.
In a significant report released in July, Sir Wyn described the devastating repercussions on those affected, including family members of wrongly accused individuals. The report highlighted that at least 13 victims possibly took their own lives directly due to the scandal.
Sir Wyn disclosed evidence indicating that at least 59 individuals contemplated suicide as a consequence of the Horizon scandal, and determining the total number of affected individuals accurately was deemed nearly impossible.
The report suggested that around 10,000 individuals are seeking compensation, a number expected to rise. The inquiry found the compensation schemes to be flawed, with individuals accepting lower settlements than entitled due to the Post Office’s confrontational approach.
Public outrage heightened with the airing of ITV drama “Mr Bates Vs The Post Office” at the beginning of last year, depicting the victims’ struggle for justice. Following the leak of Baroness Newlove’s letter, a Post Office spokesperson reassured support for all colleagues, especially those interacting directly with postmasters, to encourage them to submit claims to the Horizon Shortfall Scheme.
Fujitsu issued a statement affirming their ongoing collaboration with the government while adhering to self-imposed restrictions regarding new contracts during the Post Office Inquiry. The company is engaged in discussions with the government concerning its contribution to compensation.
The Mirror reached out to the Department for Business and Trade for comments on the matter.