A new independent review process is set to open for former postmasters who previously accepted fixed-sum compensation offers under the Horizon Shortfalls Scheme but believe their claims were undervalued. The process aims to give eligible claimants an opportunity to challenge compensation decisions linked to the Post Office Horizon scandal.
The compensation process has faced criticism over its complexity and the legal and evidential requirements placed on claimants. Some former postmasters have struggled to provide evidence of financial losses and personal harm dating back decades. In certain cases, individuals accused of theft were removed from their branches and lost access to records that could have supported their claims.
The Horizon IT scandal affected thousands of postmasters, with more than 700 people wrongly convicted on the basis of evidence from the faulty system. The resulting financial and personal consequences have led to continuing calls for fairer compensation and a more accessible redress process.
Concerns have also been raised about the Capture accounting system, which was used before 2000. Reports indicate that some postmasters using Capture faced similar accusations after apparent shortfalls in their accounts. The issues have added to calls for compensation arrangements to address the impact of both systems.
The Capture Redress Scheme is due to close to new applications on 31 March 2027. It has paid more than £9 million to claimants so far. Meanwhile, figures published for 30 September show that approximately £1.73 billion had been paid through Horizon-related redress schemes to more than 14,000 claimants, with 87% of claims received settled.
Post Office minister Kate Dearden MP said the government remained committed to providing fair, comprehensive and timely compensation to those affected by the Horizon and Capture scandals. She emphasised that the human suffering behind the figures must not be overlooked and said steps were being taken to help prevent a similar scandal from happening again.
Simon Goldberg, whose firm Simons Muirhead Burton LLP represents former postmaster Lee Castleton in his compensation claim, welcomed the government’s efforts but warned that the process continued to take too long. He also expressed concern about the comparatively low level of compensation paid under the Capture scheme.
Goldberg said complex claims were still being challenged on technical legal grounds and stressed that the consequences of the scandals had not ended. His comments reflect continuing concerns among representatives of affected postmasters about delays, disputed claims and the need for compensation decisions to recognise the lasting impact on individuals.
The introduction of an independent review process could provide an additional route for eligible former postmasters who believe their fixed-sum Horizon compensation offers did not adequately reflect their losses. Its effectiveness will depend on how the review operates in practice and whether it helps claimants obtain fair outcomes without further unnecessary delays.
