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Overturning the convictions of guilty sub-postmasters to exonerate all those unfairly prosecuted due to the Horizon scandal is a “price worth paying”, according to the government.
The Horizon scandal has been called one of the largest miscarriages of justice in British history, after thousands were prosecuted and accused of stealing money, due to the faulty Horizon software developed by Fujitsu.
Under new legislation, the government says it will “quash all convictions which are identified as being in scope”.
The Post Office minister said that possibly exonerating people guilty of crimes is a “price worth paying” to ensure innocent people are cleared.
The aim is to get the exonerations done “as soon as possible before the summer recess” on 23 July.
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Writing to the House of Commons, Kevin Hollinrake said: “As noted in my statement on 10 January, the legislation is likely to exonerate a number of people who were, in fact, guilty of a crime.
“The government accepts that this is a price worth paying in order to ensure that many innocent people are exonerated.”
In an attempt to ensure people are truthful in signing up for compensation linked to convictions being overturned, they will have to sign a disclaimer confirming their innocence.
“Any person found to have signed such a statement falsely in order to gain compensation may be guilty of fraud,” Mr Hollinrake added.
Which convictions will be overturned?
The statement from Mr Hollinrake also gives details on which exact convictions will be overturned.
Cases prosecuted by both the Post Office, and the Crown Prosecution Service where the case was based on evidence from the Post Office, will be quashed.
However, prosecutions…
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