Horizon Compensation Board Urges No Deadlines on Compensation Claims, Citing Risks to Victims as More Could Surface On New Findings Connected to Capture Software
The Horizon Compensation Advisory Board (HCAB) has advised the UK government against imposing deadlines for claims under two key compensation schemes for victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal. The schemes, the Group Litigation Order (GLO) and the Historical Shortfall Scheme (HSS), aim to address the significant financial and emotional harm caused to hundreds of individuals by one of the largest miscarriages of justice in British legal history.
In a letter dated November 29, 2024, addressed to Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business & Trade, HCAB Chair Christopher Hodges highlighted the potential harm of setting strict deadlines. The board emphasised that many claimants are vulnerable individuals who have experienced severe distress and could be re-traumatised by additional pressure to meet deadlines.
“Imposing a deadline runs a significant risk of causing avoidable and unnecessary harm,” wrote Hodges, adding that vulnerable individuals may struggle to engage with the claims process under the stress of a fixed timeframe.
The Horizon Scandal: Background
The Horizon scandal arose from a faulty accounting system, Horizon, implemented by the Post Office in 1999. Errors in the system led to false allegations of theft and fraud against more than 900 sub-postmasters. Many were prosecuted, and some were imprisoned or faced severe financial and reputational damage.
In 2021, The Court of Appeal quashed the convictions of 39 sub-postmasters, finding that the Post Office had acted improperly by failing to disclose flaws in Horizon. This decision marked the start of broader recognition of the scandal’s devastating impact.
The GLO scheme was introduced to address claims brought collectively by victims through group litigation, while the HSS was set up for other claimants who suffered financial losses due to the system’s errors.
In October 2024, Hodges wrote a letter by email to The Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, in which he stated new revelations about the scandal:
…It has recently come to light that a cohort of former sub-postmasters and mistresses were also subjected to injustice (wrongful prosecutions, convictions, investigations, bankruptcies and repayment requirements) arising out of the Capture software that was used from 1992 to 1999 before Horizon.
We have read the Kroll Report and media stories of the terrible experiences of individuals, and seen statistics about the number of Post Office investigations and prosecutions from the ‘Capture years’. Sickeningly, the evidence about the behaviour of Post Office investigations and management is the same as what took place in relation to the Horizon victims. The Horizon and Capture situations seem to us to be indistinguishable.
Inevitably, through no fault of the victims, evidence is scarce about what took place between two and three decades ago. But justice requires to be consistently and swiftly delivered. We cannot see that the Court of Appeal’s process or presumptions will assist in delivering justice in these cases. We find it impossible to distinguish between the injustice suffered by the Horizon victims and the Capture victims.
The Capture victims deserve particular speed in response in view of their greater duration of suffering and their advancing age. We urge you to overturn all the Post Office-driven convictions from the Capture period by legislation as soon as possible.
Concerns over claim deadlines
The HCAB’s letter reportedly followed a request from the Department for Business and Trade to consider imposing deadlines for claim submissions. While acknowledging ongoing efforts to encourage claims and simplify processes, the board argued that deadlines would fail to incentivise participation and could disproportionately disadvantage the most vulnerable claimants.
Hodges noted that most GLO claims are expected to be submitted by Christmas, with many likely resolved by Easter. However, the resolution process remains complex, particularly for vulnerable individuals. He recommended ongoing review and improved communication to ensure timely compensation without imposing additional burdens on claimants.
Broader implications?
The Horizon scandal has become a symbol of institutional failure, sparking widespread calls for accountability and reform within the Post Office and beyond. In July 2023, a public inquiry into the scandal concluded its evidence hearings, and its final report, expected in 2025, could lead to additional recommendations for redress and systemic changes.
Observers note that the government’s response to the scandal could set precedents for handling other complex compensation cases in the future.
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