Post Office scandal: Rishi Sunak pledges to 'make it right'
Fujitsu software between 1999 and 2015. Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, indicated that Justice Secretary Alex Chalk might consider stripping the Post Office of its prosecution powers after more than 700 branch managers received unjust criminal convictions.
A national outcry over the scandal has intensified, with over 700 branch managers facing legal consequences for apparent financial discrepancies caused by the defective software. The ITV drama, «Mr Bates vs the Post Office,» has further fueled demands for government intervention.
The faulty system led to numerous individuals being jailed, bankrupted, and tragically, at least four suicides. The majority of victims have not received compensation. Sunak acknowledged the shocking miscarriage of justice, emphasizing the need for affected individuals to receive the justice they deserve.
Chalk is exploring options to relieve the Post Office of its role in cases where operators seek to appeal their convictions. This may involve the Crown Prosecution Service taking over, potentially facilitating the quashing of convictions. To date, only 93 convictions have been overturned, with a mere 27 individuals reaching «full and final settlements.»
Chalk has long expressed concerns about the ability of some arms-length bodies to pursue private prosecutions and the low success rate of appeals among post office operators. Even after the Horizon system's defects were revealed, the Post Office continued to oppose several appeals by operators.
The recent ITV drama has prompted 50 new potential victims to contact lawyers, with five wishing to appeal their convictions. Lee Castleton, a former post office operator forced into
