Latest news with #HorizonScandal
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'BGT final was awesome', says Suffolk Post Office scandal choir singer
A former sub-postmistress turned choir singer said performing in the final of Britain's Got Talent was an "amazing and overwhelming experience".Hear Our Voice took to the Eventim Apollo stage in London on Saturday night with the hope of being crowned the winners of this year's television show. The singing group, made up of victims of the Post Office scandal and their families, finished in 7th place as viewers watched magician Harry Moulding take the top Lisa Skinner, who worked at Lakenheath Post Office in Suffolk for 10 years, said being able to raise awareness of the Horizon computer scandal was victory enough. "As a group we never expected to get that far," said Mrs Skinner, from Bury St Edmunds, who also fronts a melodic metal band."It was all about raising awareness of the cause in a different field and we feel collectively that was achieved, so we couldn't really have asked for more."I am genuinely shattered and drained but it was an amazing and overwhelming experience and I loved every second of it - it was truly awesome to be a part of." More than 900 sub-postmasters were prosecuted for stealing because of incorrect information from the Horizon computer system. It has been called the UK's most widespread miscarriage of Post Office itself took many cases to court, prosecuting 700 people between 1999 and 2015. Another 283 cases were brought by other bodies, including the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).Mrs Skinner has settled her legal case against the Post Office, but she is forever grateful for the campaigning. She said: "If it hadn't been for the very brave sub-postmasters who suffered so much trauma, then my situation could have been treated very differently."So, I am personally very grateful that they fought back when they did and managed to get people to listen."Being a part of Hear Our Voice with some of those original 555 has been both an honour and a joy." As well as raising awareness of the scandal and how it affected victims, Hear Our Voice also raises money for The Subpostmasters Charity and the Lost Voices Charity."I'm pretty certain the campaign will continue until all the affected sub-postmasters have been fully compensated," Mrs Skinner told the BBC."As for the choir, I know there are talks in the pipeline now for future ventures to gain momentum and raise funds, so hopefully it is just the beginning of many projects." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Coventry woman singing in BGT final in memory of sub-postmistress mum
A singer who is part of a choir performing in the final of ITV's Britain's Got Talent this weekend said she would be singing in memory of her late mum, who was a Ellison, from Coventry, is part of the 40-strong Hear Our Voice choir, which is made of up of people affected by the Post Office Horizon joined the choir to represent her mother Janet Bradbury, who ran a Post Office in Shropshire and was one of the original group of 555 sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses who took part in group legal a statement, the Post Office has previously said it was "deeply sorry for the suffering caused to so many people" by its past actions. Speaking to BBC CWR, Ms Ellison said her mother took on a Post Office in 2003 but did not tell her or her sister until 2010."It was meant to be their happy ever after," she said of the business. "After a couple of years that's when the shortfall started to happen and they put [their own] money in."Ms Ellison said he mother was eventually forced to move back to Warwick after losing her business and home and struggled to find permanent accommodation."She'd always worked hard to own her own home and she'd lost everything and we were angry," she said."I think for many years she was frightened that the police were going to knock on her door and drag her away." Ms Bradbury was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in September 2022, with the family saying that doctors told them that it made worse by long-term is a debilitating and terminal condition, which affects people's ability to move, talk and Bradbury died last year, one day after her grandson was joining a support group for people affected by the scandal, Ms Ellison said the idea for a choir was described the experience as "absolutely amazing" and said she had "found a new family"."Being in the choir, is something I'm doing for my mum," Ms Ellison told the BBC."I think she'd be really proud and I think she's be so happy at last, that finally, people's voices are being heard and people are being recognised for what they've gone through."She'd definitely be in the audience cheering on." The Post Office/Horizon IT scandal saw more than 900 sub-postmasters wrongfully prosecuted after faulty software suggested money was missing from their branch Post Office said it acknowledged that victims of the scandal needed answers, as well as justice and redress.A spokesperson added: "The business failed to put postmasters first, did not listen to postmasters, and did not act on concerns postmasters raised with us."We are doing all we can to help get victims answers, including fully co-operating with police investigations to help try to put things right."Fujitsu Group, which developed the software Horizon, said it offered its deepest apologies to the sub-postmasters and their families.A spokesperson added: "Fujitsu Europe's boss has previously said that the firm has a 'moral obligation' to contribute to compensation for sub-postmasters wrongly prosecuted as a result of its faulty IT software." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Post Office hero Alan Bates attacks 'quasi kangaroo courts' payouts system and reveals 'take it or leave it' offer he's been handed
Post Office hero Sir Alan Bates has accused the government of running a 'quasi kangaroo court' payout system for victims of the Horizon scandal. More than 900 sub-postmasters were prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 after faulty accounting software made it look as though money was missing from their accounts. Hundreds are still waiting for payouts despite the previous government announcing that those who have had convictions quashed are eligible for £600,000. Now Mr Bates, who led the sub-postmasters' campaign for justice, has attacked the government for 'reneging' on assurances given when the compensation schemes were set up. He said the Department for Business and Trade had promised they would be 'non-legalistic' but this turned out to be 'worthless'. It comes as the 70-year-old revealed that he had been handed a 'take it or leave it' compensation offer of less than half his original claim. Mr Bates said the first offer, made in January last year, was just one sixth of what he was asking for, adding that it rose to a third in the second offer. He has now been given a 'final take it or leave it offer' - which he said amounts to 49.2 per cent of his original claim. Mr Bates told The Sunday Times: 'The sub-postmaster compensation schemes have been turned into quasi-kangaroo courts in which the Department for Business and Trade sits in judgement of the claims and alters the goal posts as and when it chooses. 'Claims are, and have been, knocked back on the basis that legally you would not be able to make them, or that the parameters of the scheme do not extend to certain items.' Mr Bates said he has now lost confidence in the whole process and that he wants a new framework for assessing compensation for victims of public scandals. He has called for the creation of an independent body who would monitor the claims and see the government have little involvement. Last September he received a knighthood from Princess Anne at Windsor Castle for exposing the Horizon IT scandal. Mr Bates was the figurehead in the decades-long campaign to have his colleagues' names cleared and win compensation. He and his wife Lady Suzanne Sercombe bought a post office and haberdashery in Llandudno, Wales, in 1998. The Horizon IT system was installed in October 2000 and within two months financial discrepancies were showing up. Sir Alan insisted they were not his fault and refused to pay the shortfall. His contract was terminated in November 2003 and, while he was not prosecuted, he lost the £65,000 he had invested in the business. In 2009, Computer Weekly broke the story of the Post Office scandal, featuring Sir Alan and six other victims, and he founded the Justice For Subpostmasters Alliance. Just 20 people turned up to the group's first meeting, but it soon mushroomed into a high-profile campaign that ultimately led to group litigation against the shamed Post Office, and the ongoing public inquiry. It comes as it was revealed this week hundreds of former sub-postmasters will be compensated by after bungling officials accidentally leaked their names and addresses on its website. In a staggering data breach, the Mail revealed last June how 555 Post Office victims had their personal details published on the company's website. It was described as an insult to injury by those whose lives have already been ruined by being falsely accused of stealing in Britain's biggest ever miscarriage of justice. The 555 former postmasters whose home addresses have been published were among the group involved in bringing High Court class litigation against the Post Office in 2019. According to the BBC, the individuals whose personal details were leaked will be compensated in what could cost the Post Office up to £2.8million. In a statement provided to the public broadcaster, the Post Office said victims would receive £5,000 or £3,500, depending on whether the address published last year was current, although higher claims may still be pursued. The statement said: 'We have written to all named individuals either directly, or via their solicitors. 'If there are any individuals whose name was impacted by last year's breach, but who have not received information about the payment for some reason, they can contact us or ask their solicitors if they have legal representation.' Chris Head, the youngest former sub-postmaster of the Horizon IT scandal, told MailOnline he 'welcomed' the compensation, but added: 'It's taken far too long.' The 37-year-old told MailOnline: 'It was brought into the spotlight by the media in June 2024 - and nearly a year later it's only being resolved now. 'You just can't believe what the Post Office would make such a basic mistake. 'When we are talking about a confidential settlement agreement made out of court, that should never have made public, especially around such a sensitive topic. 'If we are looking on why it had such an impact, based on the original scandal and the further impact, I don't think Post Office realised the level of impact it had. 'This is not just an ordinary breach, this was on top of what people have been through over the last 25 years - all suffered at the hands of the Post Office.' A Department for Business and Trade spokesman said: 'We pay tribute to all the postmasters who have suffered from this scandal, including Sir Alan for his tireless campaign for justice, and we have quadrupled the total amount paid to postmasters since entering government. 'We recognise there will be an absence of evidence given the length of time that has passed, and we therefore aim to give the benefit of the doubt to postmasters as far as possible. 'Anyone unhappy with their offer can have their case reviewed by a panel of experts, which is independent of the government.'
The Guardian
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Sir Alan Bates given ‘take it or leave it' offer of less than half his Post Office Horizon claim
Sir Alan Bates, who led the 20-year campaign for justice for post office operators over the Horizon scandal, has revealed he has been handed a 'take it or leave it' compensation offer of less than half his original claim. The 70-year-old, who was knighted last year, has accused the government of presiding over a 'quasi kangaroo court' system for the compensation. More than 900 post office operators were convicted of offences including fraud, false accounting and theft between 1999 and 2015 after the faulty Horizon IT system falsely showed that money was missing in branch accounts. The convictions were overturned by parliament last year. Many are still awaiting damages despite the previous government announcing that those who have had convictions quashed are eligible for £600,000 payouts. Bates has also accused the Department for Business and Trade, which administers the compensation schemes, of reneging on assurances given when they were set up and told the Sunday Times a promise they would be 'non-legalistic' had turned out to be 'worthless'. He said he was given a final 'take it or leave it' offer, which amounted to 49.2% of his original claim after appealing and being referred to the scheme's independent reviewer, Sir Ross Cranston. The campaigner is now calling for the creation of an independent body that would administer compensation schemes for public sector scandals but cautioned: 'I can already hear the sharpening of goose quills across Whitehall as the civil service prepares to snow politicians under with reasons it would not work.' He added: 'The sub-postmaster compensation schemes have been turned into quasi-kangaroo courts in which the Department for Business and Trade sits in judgment of the claims and alters the goalposts as and when it chooses. 'Claims are, and have been, knocked back on the basis that legally you would not be able to make them, or that the parameters of the scheme do not extend to certain items.' The group litigation order (GLO) scheme was set up to achieve redress for the 555 claimants who took the Post Office to the high court between 2017 and 2019. Under the GLO, claimants can take a fixed sum of £75,000 or seek their own settlement. If there are disputes in individual cases, they are referred to an independent panel for review. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Post office operators can also seek a final view from Cranston, a former high court judge, if they believe the panel has got it wrong. A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: 'We pay tribute to all the postmasters who have suffered from this scandal, including Sir Alan for his tireless campaign for justice, and we have quadrupled the total amount paid to postmasters since entering government. 'We recognise there will be an absence of evidence given the length of time that has passed, and we therefore aim to give the benefit of the doubt to postmasters as far as possible. Anyone unhappy with their offer can have their case reviewed by a panel of experts, which is independent of the government.' Earlier this week, it emerged that hundreds of former post office operators will be compensated by the Post Office after it accidentally leaked their names and addresses in June 2024. The Post Office said individual payouts will be capped at £5,000, although higher claims may still be pursued.
The Independent
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Hundreds of Post Office data breach victims to receive compensation
The Post Office is set to compensate hundreds of former sub-postmasters whose personal information was inadvertently leaked online, the BBC has reported. The data breach, which occurred last June, exposed the names and addresses of 555 individuals caught up in the Horizon IT scandal. The Post Office has confirmed that individual compensation payouts will be capped at £5,000, with victims receiving either £5,000 or £3,500 depending on whether the leaked address was their current residence. While the capped amount offers a base level of redress, the Post Office has indicated that individuals may still pursue claims for higher compensation. This incident follows the widespread Horizon scandal, where faulty accounting software led to wrongful prosecutions of numerous sub-postmasters. The statement said: 'We have written to all named individuals either directly, or via their solicitors. 'If there are any individuals whose name was impacted by last year's breach, but who have not received information about the payment for some reason, they can contact us or ask their solicitors if they have legal representation.' Law firm Freeths told the BBC that 348 clients who had their data breached had already received payment. Lawyer Will Richmond-Coggan said: 'We welcome the progress we have made with this case, but there is still a long way to go to recognise the devastating impact of this breach for those affected.'
