Thousands of current and former postmasters affected by the Post Office Horizon and Capture scandals are set to benefit from new measures to accelerate compensation, strengthen scrutiny of claims and investigate software used before Horizon.
Announced on 21 October, the government's package includes new deadlines for applications to two remaining redress schemes and new independent review processes for postmasters who believe their compensation offers were unfair or inadequate.
More than £1.7 billion has been paid in compensation to over 14,000 people affected by the scandals, with 87 per cent of Horizon claims received now settled.
The Capture redress scheme has paid out more than £9 million to claimants.
Post Office minister Kate Dearden said the government remained committed to ensuring that everyone affected received fair and timely compensation.
“We must never lose sight of the suffering caused by the Horizon and Capture scandals. Behind every pound of compensation paid is a person whose life has been turned upside down by the scandal,” she said.
“We remain unwavering in our commitment to provide fair, comprehensive and timely redress to all those affected and ensure that a scandal like this never happens again.”
New deadlines and review processes
The Capture Redress Scheme will close to new applications on 31 March 2027, while the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme will stop accepting new submissions on 31 July 2027.
The government said the deadlines would provide a pathway to concluding the schemes while allowing sufficient time for affected people to apply.
Additional measures will address concerns about compensation under the Horizon Shortfalls Scheme (HSS).
Later in October, an independent review process will begin for postmasters who have been told there is insufficient evidence to qualify for a fixed-sum compensation offer.
A separate independent review process will open in November for those who have already accepted HSS fixed-sum offers but believe their claims were undervalued.
Investigation into pre-Horizon software
The government has also confirmed an independent investigation into software used by the Post Office before Horizon was introduced.
The investigation follows a recommendation from the Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Select Committee. An independent investigator will examine other software applications and their potential impact on postmasters, with the findings informing future considerations.
The move aims to establish whether problems extended beyond the Horizon system, which was at the centre of a scandal that left postmasters facing financial losses and, in some cases, criminal convictions.
Support for families
Registration remains open for the Horizon Family Members Redress Scheme, which recognises that the impact of the scandal extended beyond postmasters to their families. Claims processing is expected to begin early next year.
The government also confirmed that its Restorative Justice programme is now fully operational. The voluntary programme provides an opportunity for affected postmasters and their family members to participate in a process addressing the harm caused by the scandals.