Post Office compensation process ‘worse than the original injustice’

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/post-office-c ... mRMtmd_m36

Victims of the Post Office scandal have claimed that the compensation process is “worse than the original injustice”, according to a leaked letter.

Baroness Newlove, the Victims’ Commissioner, warned Blair McDougall, the minister for small business, that the initial offers were regarded as “insultingly low”.

In the letter, obtained by Sky News, she suggests that the constant delays and requests for paperwork from dozens of years ago left the victims feeling “distressed”.

“Far from offering catharsis, the compensation process was seen to be as bad as or even worse an experience than the initial investigation, prosecution and injustice itself,” Baroness Newlove claimed.

The four-page letter, sent on Oct 3, came shortly before the Government outlined its official response to the first part of the Horizon inquiry report.

The first part of the report found that about 1,000 people were wrongly prosecuted and convicted throughout the UK between 1999 and 2015 as a result of defective Fujitsu software which incorrectly recorded shortfalls in their branch accounts. A significant number of victims contemplated self-harm and some considered taking their own lives.

The long-running battle for justice accelerated dramatically after ITV broadcast the drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, which highlighted the scandal.

It promised to improve the compensation schemes and fund victims’ legal advice following the damning conclusions released in July, accepting all but one of the recommendations.

Blair McDougall, the Post Office minister, said: “We pay tribute to all the postmasters who have suffered from the Horizon scandal, which is why we have increased the total amount paid to postmasters fivefold to over £1bn as part of our ongoing commitment to deliver justice to victims as swiftly as possible.

“Since this letter was sent we set out our response to Sir Wyn Williams’ inquiry proposals, which will help us further speed up claims, and which offers legal advice to sub postmasters.

“I look forward to working with postmasters in making further improvements to the redress schemes so that they get the compensation they deserve.”

A Post Office spokesman said: “We have and continue to actively support all Post Office colleagues, but particularly those with direct contact with postmasters, to encourage them to submit a claim to the Horizon Shortfall Scheme if they believe they suffered losses in the past.

“Our area managers are playing a pivotal role in guiding postmasters on how to submit a claim and signposting where there’s additional support to do so. We have a dedicated claimant support team available on the phone to discuss options, provide support, and answer any questions a postmaster may have so that we can begin to process their claim right away.

“We would welcome contact with the Victim Commissioner directly so that we can understand more about what they have been told and to ensure all of us work together so that current and former postmasters get their claims in as soon as possible.”

A Fujitsu spokesman told The Telegraph: “We continue to work with Government to ensure we adhere to the voluntary restrictions we put in place regarding bidding for new contracts while the Post Office Inquiry is ongoing and we are engaged with Government regarding Fujitsu’s contribution to compensation.”