Press release -
Post Office statement on Southwark Crown Court appeal
Southwark Crown Court today (22 July 2022) formally acquitted a former Postmaster in a case referred by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), in an uncontested appeal. The case, from 2001, related to a conviction in a Magistrates’ Court in which Post Office acted as prosecutor.
A Post Office spokesperson said:
“Post Office is sincerely sorry for the failures of the past and we are taking determined action to right the wrongs suffered by those affected.
“Our priority is to ensure that there is meaningful compensation for victims and that such events can never happen again.”
Post Office ceased prosecutions related to Horizon computer evidence in 2015. Appeals of cases began in 2020 following the ‘Horizon Issues’ Judgment in civil Group Litigation and, to date, there have now been 75 historical convictions overturned in unopposed appeals. In addition, there has been one conviction overturned in a conceded appeal in which the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was the Respondent, not Post Office.
Note to editors:
Post Office has identified a total of 706 historical convictions in cases it prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 in which Horizon computer evidence might have featured. To date, a total of 117 appeals have been completed by the Courts.
Appeals of historical cases in which Post Office acted as prosecutor began in 2020 with referrals by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). The appeals followed the ‘Horizon Issues’ Judgment in group civil litigation in December 2019.
More information on progress of appeals and compensation can be found on our website here.
About the Post Office
- With over 11,500 branches, Post Office has the biggest retail network in the UK, with more branches than all the banks and building societies combined.
- Post Office is helping anyone who wants cash to get it whichever way is most convenient. Partnership with over 30 banks, building societies and credit unions means that 99% of UK bank customers can access their accounts at their Post Office.
- Cash withdrawals, deposits and balance enquiries can be made securely and conveniently over the counter at any Post Office; and the biggest investment by any organisation or company in the last decade is being made to safeguard 1,400 free-to-use ATMs across the UK.
- Post Office is simplifying its proposition for Postmasters with a focus on itscash and banking; mails and parcels; foreign exchange; andbill paymentsservices.
- Researchhas found that visits to the Post Office help drive another 400 million visitors to other shops, restaurants and local businesses equating to an estimated £1.1 billion in additional revenue for High Street businesses.
- 99.7% of the population live within three miles of a Post Office; and 4,000 branches are open seven days a week.
