Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Horizon IT scandal inquiry slams compensation scheme

Horizon IT scandal inquiry slams compensation scheme
(Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Schemes aimed to compensate former post office operators, who were affected by Horizon IT scandal, are “a patchwork quilt” with “holes in it”, the chair of the inquiry into the scandal has said, forecasting that they are likely to miss the deadline to pay up.

On Monday (17), the inquiry’s chair, Sir Wyn Williams, called for legislative change to resolve issues for the compensation schemes that were put in place to recompense those affected by the scandal.


“There are three schemes in existence by which compensation can be delivered to eligible applicants. They came into existence at different times, and are responses to very different sets of circumstances as they unfolded. What has emerged is a patchwork quilt of compensation schemes. And, unfortunately, it is a patchwork quilt with some holes in it," The Guardian quoted Williams as saying.

So far almost £100 million has been paid out so far by the Post Office and the government but Williams said it was his “strongly held view” that administrators would be “unable to deliver compensation payments to all applicants” by the deadline of Aug 7 next year, saying it would mean that 550 claims would have to be heard within 20 months.

"I am left with the distinct impression that the most complex cases have not been addressed as speedily as might have been the case."

He has sent a report setting out his recommendations to business minister Kevin Hollinrake in an attempt to ensure “full and fair” compensation is paid to those affected by the scandal.

“The evidence upon me hasn’t changed. It hasn’t lessened to a degree. Many hundreds of people suffered disastrous consequences by reason of the misuse of data from Horizon, and thousands more suffered very significantly.”

Williams said he had “been of the view for some months that we are too far down the road with each scheme to contemplate abandoning them in favour of one comprehensive scheme”.

Despite it being more than a year since Sir Wyn closed the "human impact evidence" portion of the inquiry, he said "the effect of the evidence upon me hasn't changed".

"It hasn't lessened to a degree," he said.

More than 700 people were prosecuted for theft and false accounting between 2000 and 2014 after the Post Office’s flawed Horizon IT system incorrectly suggested there were financial shortfalls. A high court judge ruled in 2019 that the system contained a number of “bugs, errors and defects” and many of the criminal convictions were overturned.

The Post Office had paid out more than £80m across the historical shortfall scheme and the overturned historical convictions scheme by the end of April 2023. The government also paid out an additional £19m in interim compensation under the group litigation scheme in the same period.

More for you

Retail sales in January 2025

Retail sales in January 2025

iStock image

Retail sales surge in January despite stormy weather

January sales kicked off a solid month for retail with stores delivering their strongest growth in almost two years, shows industry report released today (11).

According to retail body British Retail Consortium (BRC), UK total retail sales increased by 2.6 per cent year on year in January, against a growth of 1.2 per cent in January 2024. This was above the 3-month average growth of 1.1 per cent and above the 12-month average growth of 0.8 per cent.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Kash Retail donates £1,000 through Nisa’s charity to support Darlington Pride Festival

Kash Retail donates £1,000 through Nisa’s charity.

NISA

KASH Retail joins forces with Nisa charity to support Darlington Pride Festival

KASH Retail, operator of Nisa Local Fenby Avenue in Darlington, has generously donated £1,000 through Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally (MADL) Pride Pot to support this year’s Darlington Pride Festival.

The donation, inspired by store team member Gavin Morrison, who performs as drag queen Georgina Sparks, will provide a valuable boost to the event, helping organisers deliver an inclusive and vibrant celebration for the local community.

Keep ReadingShow less
Spanish fine food importer Mevalco supports MAZI Project charity

Spanish fine food importer Mevalco supports MAZI Project charity

Mevalco, the Bristol-based Spanish distributor which includes some of the UK’s most talented high-profile chefs and fine dining establishments amongst its customers, has announced a collaboration with The MAZI Project – the Bristol youth-led charity, which was founded in 2019 and nourishes vulnerable 16–25-year-olds through food.

The MAZI Project supports care leavers, and young asylum seekers, as well as young people recovering from homelessness or who may be fleeing domestic violence. Not only does The MAZI Project educate the next generation in food culture and health, but it empowers young people by helping them learn the trade and find job opportunities within the catering industry.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Privately SA's AgeAI solution Prevents Underage Vaping

Privately SA's AgeAI solution

Privately SA

Efficient AI tool deter underage vape buyers, avoids customer conflict

Deployment of an AI-enabled age identifying tool can prevent underage vaping to a great extent thus avoiding conflicting situations as well, a recent report has shown, highlighting the scale of minors vaping in the UK and the role of that such solutions can play to deter underage sales in a busy store.

According to new data from Privately SA, the deployments of AgeAI solution in UK vape stores prevent on average eight minor customers per store per day from purchasing vapes.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Booker launches new delivery app Scoot

Booker launches new delivery app Scoot

Booker

Booker's new delivery app for symbol retailers to deliver in 30 minutes

Booker has launched a brand-new ordering platform exclusively for its symbol group retailers to help them deliver local groceries to their customers’ doors, in as little as 30 minutes.

The new ordering platform, Scoot, connects shoppers with their local participating independent retailer enabling them to order food, drinks and household essentials from a curated list of products chosen by the retailer.

Keep ReadingShow less