Post Office Alan Bates reveals he’ll REJECT ‘derisory’ compensation

Post Office scandal sufferer Alan Bates has revealed he’ll reject a ‘merciless’ and ‘derisory’ compensation supply from the Government following years of alleged mistreatment by the hands of his former office. 

The former sub-postmaster, whose battle to exonerate his and others’ named following a mass of wrongful convictions impressed the ITV drama Mr Bates vs. The Post Office, mentioned he can be turning down the federal government’s supply, which was simply one-sixth what he had requested for.

After receiving the supply at the moment, he instructed the Telegraph: ‘”Full and fair” may be His Majesty’s Government’s interpretation, however in actuality the supply is derisory, offensive and in spite of everything this time, sure, merciless.’

Bates, who for the final 20 years has fought his wrongful conviction caused by the defective Horizon software program created by Fujitsu, is considered one of round 4,000 individuals instructed they are going to be eligible for compensation. 

Hundreds of Post Office department managers who have been wrongly convicted within the Horizon IT scandal might have their names cleared by the tip of the yr.

Alan Bates (pictured) mentioned he was rejecting the federal government’s paltry compensation supply

The Horizon scandal was dramatised in Mr Bates vs. The Post Office

The Post Office carried out round 700 personal prosecutions in opposition to sub-postmasters utilizing proof from the Horizon software program, regardless of figuring out there have been critical flaws within the system 

Blanket laws to exonerate subpostmasters convicted in England and Wales might be launched inside weeks and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mentioned they have been victims of ‘one of many best miscarriages of justice in our nation’s historical past’.

The scandal noticed the Post Office take up personal prosecutions in opposition to sub-postmasters throughout the nation between 1999 and 2015 for allegedly stealing funds from their branches. 

But the proof centred on information from Horizon, a chunk of accounting software program with extreme ‘bugs, errors and defects’, a excessive court docket decide present in 2021. 

Mr Justice Fraser, ruling in 2021, mentioned that there was a  ‘materials threat’ that shortfalls in department accounts have been brought on by the system.

He condemned the Post Office, which took up round 700 personal prosecutions, for figuring out ‘there have been critical points concerning the reliability of Horizon’, however carrying on with authorized battles regardless. 

Postmasters accused of theft by Post Office rejoice exterior the High Court in London after they’ve had their convictions overturned

ITV’s new drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office has drawn a renewed curiosity within the scandal, with Mr Bates being performed by Toby Jones (pictured within the function)

The scandal is seen as one of many UK’s greatest miscarriages of justice and has gained latest nationwide consideration over latest days due to Mr Bates Vs The Post Office airing on ITV

‘By representing Horizon as dependable, and refusing to countenance any suggestion on the contrary, POL [Post Office Limited] successfully sought to reverse the burden of proof: it handled what was not more than a shortfall proven by an unreliable accounting system as an incontrovertible loss, and proceeded as if it have been for the accused to show that no such loss had occurred,’ Mr Justice Fraser mentioned on the time. 

‘Denied any disclosure of fabric able to undermining the prosecution case, defendants have been inevitably unable to discharge that improper burden. 

‘As every prosecution proceeded to its profitable conclusion the asserted reliability of Horizon was, on the face of it, bolstered. 

‘Defendants have been prosecuted, convicted and sentenced on the idea that the Horizon information should be appropriate, and money should due to this fact be lacking, when in actual fact there may very well be no confidence as to that basis.’

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

Bates beforehand mentioned he welcomed the ‘excellent news’ however mentioned the struggle just isn’t over for a lot of of these nonetheless awaiting compensation.

Rishi Sunak talking through the first Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) session of the yr on the House of Commons

Alan Bates sits alongside spouse Suzanne Sercombe because the couple seem on ITV’s This Morning. Calls have been made for Mr Bates to obtain an honour for his marketing campaign to reveal the Post Office scandal

‘It is a leap ahead, however it ain’t over but,’ he instructed BBC Radio 4’s The World At One programme.

‘The satan is within the element and we’re but to see that. We’re nonetheless going to should maintain pushing the entire concern ahead till everyone seems to be sorted.’

Earlier this month, Downing Street backed referred to as for Bates to be awarded a knighthood for his central function in exposing the Post Office scandal and preventing to clear the names of wrongfully convicted sub-postmasters. 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokeswoman mentioned it could be ‘widespread sense’ to honour the previous subpostmaster after a mass quashing of convictions was introduced.

The PM’s press secretary argued that it’s ‘onerous to think about somebody extra deserving of being rewarded by the honours system than him’.