What can I do about my conviction for a Horizon criminal offence?

• The Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill is now going through Parliament. It had its second reading in the House of Commons on Wednesday 20 March.
• The bill would automatically quash convictions for specified offences of dishonesty (including false accounting, fraud and theft) that were prosecuted by the Post Office or the Crown Prosecution Service.
  • For more information about the convictions that are covered, see the Clause 2 of the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill.
• The Bill itself does not provide for compensation. However, the government has announced plans to establish a new Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme that will make compensation payments to those who have had their convictions quashed by the Bill. (Wrongful Post Office convictions to be quashed through landmark legislation: 13 March 2024)
• The government has said that it wants the Bill to pass by July, with compensation to those cleared potentially being paid “as quickly as by August”. (HC Deb 20 March 2024 c1006)
• Constituents with convictions that are likely to be covered by the Bill may want to wait until it is passed and more information is available on compensation.
• Convictions that have already been considered by the Court of Appeal would be excluded from the Bill. The Times has reported that 13 cases will be excluded from the scope of the Bill because appeals have already been dismissed by the Court of Appeal or leave to appeal was refused. If you are in this situation, please contact jeff.smith.mp@parliament.uk and we can provide information on the options available to you.
• Those who have already successfully appealed against a Horizon-related conviction, can apply for compensation via a Post Office run scheme.

I wasn’t convicted – but I was a postmaster affected by the scandal.

• Current and former postmasters affected by the scandal can apply to join the Horizon Shortfall Scheme. There is more information here and the application form is here.
• If you were a postmaster and experienced shortfalls in your Post Office due to other software issues, such as the Capture system, please get in touch so that I can assist you. I am working with colleagues to ensure all those affected receive the redress they deserve.

I want the truth about the scandal to be told.

• The Government has set up an independent inquiry under former High Court judge Sir Wyn Williams. The inquiry is aiming to ensure that the truth about the scandal is known, that mistakes are learnt from and to ensure that nothing similar happens in future. You can follow its work here.

I want to share my story.

• The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry has launched a new listening project to hear from more people impacted by the Post Office Horizon scandal.
• In Your Own Words is a channel for anyone affected by the scandal to share their stories and how their experiences have impacted them. Experiences shared will inform a Legacy Project that the Inquiry is working with sub-postmasters to develop.
• Anyone wishing to contribute to In Your Own Words can share their story through an online form https://forms.office.com/e/h7qZSHiDZR. People are invited to share their own stories or to share on behalf of those no longer with us. 

I have evidence about the scandal.

• If you have evidence which might help the Inquiry, please contact Solicitor@postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk

There is also free, independent, and confidential help and advice available from Citizens Advice. Their dedicated webpage on appeals against convictions is here.