Postmasters slam ‘derisory’ compensation makes an attempt from the Post Office
- Christopher Head was one of many youngest sub-postmasters at 18-years-old
- The 36-year-old slams ‘dangerous’ provide of compensation from UK Government
- He referred to as for an agreed interim cost to be supplied for claimants
One of the UK’s youngest sub-postmasters who was wrongly accused of theft after the Post Office Horizon scandal has criticised ‘the dangerous’ affords of compensation being supplied by the Government.
Christopher Head, who was simply 18 in 2006 when he took over a newsagents and sub-post workplace at West Bolden, Tyneside, additionally referred to as for the introduction of an agreed interim cost for all accepted claims.
It comes as Alan Bates, the previous sub-postmaster who led the marketing campaign for justice within the scandal mentioned he’ll reject a suggestion of compensation from the Government branding it ‘derisory, offensive and merciless’.
Mr Head, now 36-years-old, was supplied round £5,000 in compensation for reputational harm as a substitute of £75,000. The Post Office accused him of stealing greater than £80,000 throughout his time working the put up workplace.
He instructed MailOnline on Thursday: ‘I did not count on the provide to be that dangerous.
Christopher Head was one of many youngest sub-postmasters within the nation when he took over West Bolden Post Office
Head was suspended in 2015 by the Post Office and a felony investigation was launched
‘Had the Government come to the desk with 50 p.c, it might give a sign that they’re possibly extra severe.
‘However, once you get 12 or 13 p.c, you have bought an uphill climb.
‘It actually appears like a giant recreation to the Government and it seems they do not totally perceive our circumstances particularly after they mentioned to me my provide ‘was truthful and cheap’.
When requested about how the scheme was being run, he mentioned: ‘I really feel [the compensation schemes] are simply being dragged out and dragged out.
Alan Bates, the previous subpostmaster who has led the marketing campaign for justice within the Post Office Horizon scandal
‘The Government should not be working these compensation schemes, it is a automobile crash ready to occur.’
After spending years growing his enterprise and changing into a robust pillar of the West Bolden neighborhood, he began to expertise unexplained shortfalls occurring beneath the flawed Horizon pc system which the Post Office purchased from IT large Fujitsu.
At first the quantities have been sufficiently small for him to cowl from his personal pocket however in 2014, the issue turned severe issues.
The system wanted to be consistently rebooted, generally as much as 12 occasions a day, and he was instructed it wanted to get replaced as a result of it had ‘corrupt information’.
When the brand new pc system was put in, Mr Head found that Horizon was now exhibiting a £40,000 shortfall, which rapidly doubled to £80,000.
Head was suspended in 2015 and a felony investigation was launched, which was later dropped. The Post Office then launched a High Court motion to get better the cash earlier than later dropping it in 2019.
The Government later confirmed plans for ‘full and truthful compensation’ to subpostmasters affected by the IT scandal.
Mr Head was simply 18 in 2006 when he took over the newsagents and sub-post workplace at West Boldon, helped by a mortgage from his father
Mr Head sporting a shirt to boost consciousness of the scandal which has affected 1000’s
However, for the reason that 2019 High Court ruling, victims have claimed the compensation course of has been gradual.
Head referred to as for the introduction of an agreed interim cost the place a proportion of the full declare is paid when a declare is accepted and an unbiased physique to deal with the claims.
He added: ‘When a declare goes ahead, there ought to be no query that an interim cost ought to be agreed to as a result of it reveals that they’re going to be severe.’
Meanwhile, Mr Bates, whose two-decade battle impressed the ITV sequence Mr Bates vs The Post Office, mentioned his compensation provide had been ’round a sixth’ of what he requested.
He instructed the Telegraph: ‘Full and truthful’ is likely to be His Majesty’s Government’s interpretation, however in actuality the provide is derisory, offensive and in spite of everything this time, sure, merciless.
‘I’ll completely be turning this provide for monetary redress down.
Alan Bates, memorably performed by Toby Jones within the four-part ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office
‘It’s only a horrible strategy to deal with human beings – and I’ve heard from a number of subpostmasters who’ve obtained equally derisory affords, whereas others are nonetheless ready.’
He mentioned the provide had been made on Wednesday, 111 days after his declare – ready with the assistance of forensic accountants engaged by his attorneys – had been submitted.
‘I’ve been within the queue together with all of the others within the scheme, but when my case is an instance of the best way they’re going to deal with all instances, we could as effectively begin a authorized motion once more and let the judiciary resolve.’
Downing Street has mentioned Alan Bates ‘deserves the precise stage of compensation’ for his struggling after the previous subpostmaster rejected a ‘derisory’ provide from the Government.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman mentioned: ‘Alan Bates is a distinguished campaigner and deserves the precise stage of compensation for the struggling he is been via, that is the identical for all subpostmasters.
‘Claims are checked out by exterior attorneys who have a look at the proof and supply recommendation to officers, and now anybody who will not be content material with their provide is ultimately in a position to take their declare to an unbiased panel who can resolve.’
He mentioned January’s information reveals there have been 59 claims that month, with 44 affords and 29 acceptances.
Meanwhile, Lib Dem chief Sir Ed Davey apologised to victims of the Post Office scandal and accused the Government of utilizing the scandal to assault political rivals.
Sir Ed has confronted recent scrutiny over his function as postal affairs minister within the coalition authorities, with the main miscarriage of justice within the highlight due to the ITV drama.
Lib Dem chief Sir Ed Davey apologised to victims of the Post Office scandal
Victims of the scandal have argued the MP has inquiries to reply. He has additionally confronted elevated Conservative assaults about his ministerial function between 2010 and 2012.
Writing in The Guardian on Thursday, Sir Ed mentioned he’s ‘deeply sorry’ for the households who’ve had their lives ruined by ‘the best miscarriage of justice in our time’.
‘As one of many ministers over the 20 years of this scandal, together with my time as minister answerable for postal affairs, I’m sorry I didn’t see via the Post Office’s lies – and that it took me 5 months to satisfy Alan Bates, the person who has achieved a lot to uncover it,’ he mentioned.
