Lee Bowerman, a former sub-postmaster who says he lost around £60,000 because of Capture (Photo: Tom Pilston/The i Paper)
Victims of a second IT scandal at the Post Office have slammed the Government’s compensation scheme as “not fit for purpose”.
Hundreds of sub-postmasters are believed to have lost money as a result of using Capture, a primitive piece of accounting software rolled out to branches in the 90s.
An investigation by The i Paper last year revealed how the Post Office knew Capture was capable of producing accounting shortfalls, but pursued sub-postmasters over the alleged losses anyway.
In a precursor to the Horizon scandal, which began in 1999, some victims were privately prosecuted by the Post Office.
The Government now acknowledges that Capture was faulty and has launched a new compensation scheme in addition to the £1 billion put aside for Horizon claims.
But victims have told The i Paper they are unhappy that the scheme will involve a banding model of payouts between £10,000 to £300,000, with awards beyond this only to be considered in “exceptional circumstances”.
Capture victims will only have a single opportunity to appeal their offer if they think it is unfair.
Victims of faulty Post Office IT system Capture have criticised a new Government compensation scheme which they say will not cover their losses (Photo: Tom Pilston)
It comes after Horizon victims have had multiple opportunities to appeal offers after deeming the initial offers unsatisfactory.
Sir Alan Bates, who led the campaign against the Post Office for many years, has reportedly reached a seven-figure compensation settlement having previously complained that he was given a “take it or leave it” offer which amounted to less than 50 per cent of his claim.
“The scheme does have to have the backing of the group and at the moment it is not acceptable to a large amount of people,” said Capture victim Lee Bowerman, from Ebbw Vale, South Wales.
“There should be scope for change.
“It will suit some people at the lower end but the upper band of £300,000 wouldn’t even touch the sides for people like me who had bigger [Post] offices.
“Look at what Alan Bates supposedly ended up with and there are people involved in Capture who had much larger offices.
“We can’t have a dual track process whether it’s Capture or Horizon – the circumstances mirror each other.
“We were promised parity.”
The Capture compensation scheme was unveiled unexpectedly last week with Post Office minister Blair McDougall hosting a meeting with victims in London.
McDougall is now the third minister to have dealt with the Capture scandal, having taken over from Gareth Thomas in Labour’s reshuffle in September.
Compensation funding was first approved under former Conservative minister Kevin Hollinrake last year.
“They’ve had 15 months to get this scheme up and running and it’s just not fit for purpose,” Bowerman, 67, added.
“Time has passed unneccessarily – the funding was agreed last year.
“I don’t know why they haven’t learned the lessons of the other schemes – it’s incredible.”
Bowerman said Capture victims had been left dissatisfied by their meeting with McDougall, adding he believed the minister appeared “out of his depth”.
He said: “When he was put on the spot he looked like a rabbit in headlights. He couldn’t answer any of the questions put to him.”
The i Paper understands at least 20 Capture victims have written to McDougall expressing concern about the scheme, calling for the £300,000 upper band limit to be bypassed.
Those who were criminally prosecuted by the Post Office using Capture evidence will not eligible to claim compensation until their convictions are overturned.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) confirmed the first case, the prosecution of former sub-postmistress Patricia Owen, has now been referred to the Court of Appeal and lawyers are awaiting a hearing date.
Patricia Owen was found guilty of theft in 1998 despite insisting she never stole from her Post Office in Kent.
She fought to clear her name for years but sadly died in 2003.
Her daughter, Juliet Shardlow, is now leading the campaign and hopes that overturning Owen’s conviction will pave the way for all Capture convictions to be quashed.
Steve Marston, 69, who was the first victim to speak to The i Paper as it exposed the Capture scandal last year, is among a further 33 cases waiting for his conviction to be overturned.
He said of the Govenrment’s compensation scheme: “I don’t think anybody is happy with it.
“They are doing this ‘one-shot’ appeal and there’s a lot of upset about it – with Horizon they got multiple opportunities.
“£300,000 doesn’t even touch the sides, we lost two properties with all the contents and that’s just the physical items – it wouldn’t come anywhere near.
“It’s just not fair at the minute.”
A Government spokesperson said: “After over two decades of fighting for justice, postmasters and their families will finally receive redress for being impacted by the Capture software and we pay tribute to The i Paper’s work in helping expose this injustice.
“All of those who apply for the scheme and are eligible will receive an immediate interim payment of £10,000 and the independent panel can award above £300,000 in exceptional circumstances.”
It is understood Post Office minister Blair McDougall has received the letter from Bowerman and other victims and will respond shortly.