Post Office makes statement on Horizon appeals

The board of the Post Office said it considered the Criminal Cases Review Commission’s Statement of Reasons, the findings made in the Post Office Group Litigation, and material reviewed as part of its extensive disclosure exercise to come to its decision.

Post Office said it “wishes to ensure that all postmasters entitled to claim civil compensation because of their convictions being overturned are recompensed as quickly as possible. Therefore, we are considering the best process for doing that. Further details will be published in due course”.

The Post Office has also set up a disclosure exercise, by external criminal law specialists, to identify material which might affect the safety of any relevant historical prosecutions. This work is expected to be completed within the next few months and Post Office will update the court and the appellants on the results.

Chief executive, Nick Read, said: “We are forging a new relationship with postmasters helping them to build thriving post office businesses for customers and communities throughout the UK.  The difficult lessons of the past are being learnt, and we are making fundamental changes to our culture, practices and operating procedures.”

The Post Office appointed a new director, Declan Salter, in August. Salter reports to Tim Parker and Nick Read with responsibilities including implementing claims schemes to provide redress for postmasters affected by historical events and a programme of scrutinising operational measures for any further improvement.

Salter said: “We are addressing the past in a fair and transparent way, ensuring there is redress for postmasters and making significant operational improvements that put postmasters at the heart of the Post Office.”