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The investigation into the Horizon scandal, which led to the wrongful convictions of hundreds of subpostmasters, begins its penultimate stage this week, with campaigner Alan Bates set to appear in court.
Former sub-postmaster general’s 20-year campaign for justice is dramatized in ITV series Mr Bates vs Post Officeis expected to give evidence to the inquiry on Tuesday.
Several other key figures in the scandal are expected to appear in court in the coming months, until it ends in September.
What can we expect from Alan Bates’ evidence?
The current phase of the Horizon investigation will focus on the subpostmasters’ fight for justice, compensation efforts, and the Post Office’s response to legal challenges.
Mr Bates will be the first to give evidence at this stage and is likely to be asked about his experience as founder of the Judicial Deputy Postmasters Union.
The veteran campaigner has in recent weeks called for those responsible for the Horizon scandal to be prosecuted for their alleged roles.
He told the BBC on Monday: “People have to be held accountable and I don’t see any signs of that yet, but after the investigation I think that’s definitely the next step.”
“And not only that, but you start looking at prosecution. People have been paid huge bonuses over the years. Some of that should be taken back.”
Mr Bates also criticized the government’s offer of compensation for wrongfully convicted subpostmasters, calling the package “cruel” and “a mockery”.
Appearing before lawmakers in January, he warned that many of those affected by the scandal may die before receiving compensation.
“It’s frustrating to say the least,” he told the Commerce and Industry Committee.
“So there’s no reason at all why there shouldn’t have been a full economic bailout by now. It’s been going on for too long. People are suffering and dying… and it seems like it’s tied up in bureaucracy. And that seems to be the big problem.”
Who else will give evidence to the inquiry?
Other key figures in the scandal are also expected to give evidence, with former Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier giving evidence at the inquiry on Friday.
He was the head of the organization from 2003 to 2010, at the height of the Horizon scandal, before stepping down as head of ITV until 2017, when he became chairman of BT.
While Mr Crozier ran Royal Mail, which delivered parcels and letters, the company still legally owned the Post Office, a state-run private company that operated all 11,500 Post Office branches. However, the two companies were split in 2012.
Also giving evidence on Friday was Alan Cooke, former managing director of the Post Office from 2006 to 2010, who oversaw the prosecution of 160 sub-postmasters during his tenure.
Alan Leighton, who was chairman of Royal Mail from 2002 to 2008 and worked closely with Mr Cook, is due to appear at the inquiry later this month.
Three days of research will be set aside in May to hear from Paula Vennels, CEO of the Post Office from 2012 to 2019.
Ms Vennels surrendered her Order of the British Empire amid backlash after the ITV series and also resigned from her duties as an Anglican priest in 2021 after the convictions of 39 subpostmasters were quashed. .
When will the post office investigation be completed?
The government announced in 2020 that it would conduct an inquiry into the Post Office Horizon incident, which was upgraded to a full statutory public inquiry in 2021.
The inquiry, which will be led by retired judge Sir Wyn Williams, is expected to begin its first phase in May 2022 and conclude by September 2024.
So far, the focus has been on the human impact of the scandal, the procurement of the Horizon system, knowledge of the system’s errors, and the process for legal action against the subpostmaster general.
The fifth and sixth phases are scheduled to run in parallel from April to July, and will focus on compensation for sub-postmaster generals, post office governance and responding to scandals.
Lord Wynne said the final findings and recommendations would be submitted to the government shortly after the inquiry concluded in September.
What is the government doing to compensate subpostmasters?
In February, the government announced that it would introduce legislation to fully exonerate all wrongfully convicted subpostmasters and provide interim compensation.
According to Number 10, those whose convictions are overturned will receive interim money, but can also immediately accept a fixed final offer of £600,000.
It also includes “enhanced” economic penalties against subpostmasters who have settled apparent losses caused by flaws in the Horizon system at their own expense, even though they have not been convicted of a crime or are not part of a lawsuit against the Post Office. Relief is also planned.
They are entitled to a fixed payment of £75,000 through the Horizon Shortage Scheme, and government figures show that £98 million has already been paid out through the scheme.
Subpostmasters’ remuneration, which has already been settled for less, will be increased to this level and people can instead choose to have their claims assessed as part of the normal scheme process. There are no limits to compensation.
The new Horizon Conviction Relief Scheme will be run by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and applications will be accepted from people whose convictions have been annulled “as soon as possible” after the bill is passed.
The government hopes the bill will receive Royal Assent and become law before Parliament goes into summer recess.
More than 4,000 people affected by the scandal have been informed that they are eligible for compensation. At least 60 subpostmasters have died awaiting justice, and the scandal has also been linked to four suicides.