- The scheme will open for applications in Autumn 2025, with an initial rollout for 150 claimants before wider implementation.
- Postmasters who used the Capture system and suffered financial shortfalls are eligible to apply, as well as relatives of deceased postmasters or those needing additional support.
- The government has already paid out £1 billion in compensation to postmasters affected by the Horizon IT Scandal
The government has set out the details for the Capture Redress Scheme, designed to provide fair compensation for those who suffered financial shortfalls due to the Capture software between 1992 and 2000.
Capture was a faulty computer system used by postmasters in the 1990s, before the Horizon scandal.
The announcement follows the government’s acceptance of findings from the independent investigation by Kroll Associates, which concluded there was a reasonable likelihood that Capture created financial shortfalls for postmasters.
The scheme is expected to open for applications in Autumn 2025, with an initial phased rollout for 150 claimants to ensure the process is fair, proportionate and accessible before wider implementation.
This announcement follows on the footsteps of the government confirming that £1 billion has paid out in compensation to over 7,300 postmasters affected by the Horizon IT Scandal, and the opening of the Horizon Shortfalls Scheme Appeals process for all eligible postmasters in May.
“We are committed to delivering fair and swift redress for all postmasters affected by Post Office software failures as part of our Plan for Change. Today’s announcement represents another important step in righting the wrongs of the past and rebuilding trust in the Post Office,” post office minister Gareth Thomas said.
The government said the Capture Redress Scheme has been specifically designed to address the unique challenges of cases dating back over two decades, where documentation may be limited. The government will set out funding to cover postmasters’ legal costs in the coming weeks.
The scheme features:
- A straightforward two-stage process: an initial eligibility review followed by an independent panel assessment
- Prompt preliminary payments for eligible claimants, ensuring early acknowledgement of loss
- A holistic assessment approach that considers both financial losses and wider personal impact
- A guided scoring and banding model for consistency in awards while maintaining flexibility
Who can apply
Postmasters are eligible to apply if they:
- Were a postmaster between 1992 and 2000
- Used the Capture system in their branch
- Suffered a financial shortfall as a result of a Capture software error
Applications from relatives of deceased postmasters or those needing additional support will also be accepted.
Independent assessment
All eligible claims will be reviewed by an independent panel of experts operating entirely separately from government. The panel will:
- Take a holistic view of each claim, avoiding drawn out legal processes and providing fair redress even where evidence is low.
- Use a balance of probabilities standard of proof
- Recommend appropriate payment levels
- Provide claimants the right to appeal in certain circumstances
Those with criminal convictions related to Capture should pursue their cases through the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) or its Scottish equivalent.
