Post Office Horizon IT victims to get funded legal appeal advice

Compensation schemes for victims of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal will be improved, with a new appeals process and funded legal advice for post office operators, the government announced yesterday.

- Julia Kollewe

Responding to the first part of the findings from a two-year public inquiry, the business secretary, Peter Kyle, said there would be a new appeals process for people who have accepted fixed-sum offers under the Horizon shortfall scheme (HSS), one of several compensation schemes.

Funded legal advice will be offered for appeals for those affected by the scandal, regarded as one of the worst miscarriages of justice in UK legal history, including for those who have previously settled for fixed sums.