Post Office today told the Court of Appeal that it will be opposing the applications in two cases seeking permission to appeal convictions in Post Office prosecutions on account of Horizon evidence.
The firm added that it is seeking further guidance from the court in one other case as there is currently “insufficient material” to determine whether or not the reliability of Horizon was essential to the prosecution.
“Post Office is taking determined action to fairly address historical prosecutions, carefully considering each case in view of the Court of Appeal’s previous judgments,” a Post Office spokesperson said.
“We are continuing to make strenuous efforts contacting people with relevant convictions that may be affected to assist them should they wish to appeal.”
Post Office said it has identified a total of 706 historical convictions in cases it prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 in which Horizon computer evidence might have featured. Of these cases, a total of 94 have now been through the appeal courts and 71 convictions have been overturned.
Other cases are continuing through the legal process, including reviews by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).
Appeals of historical cases in which Post Office acted as prosecutor began in 2020 with referrals by the CCRC, following the ‘Horizon Issues’ Judgment by the High Court in group civil litigation in December 2019.
