Post Office victims 'still need fair compensation'
PA MediaA sub-postmaster, who was one of 900 wrongly accused of stealing by the Post Office, says the government's compensation scheme has left some still waiting for a "full and fair" payout.
It comes after the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said one of the routes to compensation - the Group Litigation Order scheme - would close to new applicants on 31 July, aiming to conclude at the end of the year following what it called "successful delivery".
DBT said 90% of claimants have received compensation, with £223m paid out.
Former South Tyneside sub-postmaster Christopher Head said: "I don't see why it should be DBT that should say that it has been successful, it should be the claimants."
Head became the organisation's youngest sub-postmaster when he took over the West Boldon branch aged 18 in 2006, and was falsely accused of stealing more than £80,000.
"They are marking their own homework, the department class full and fair redress being paid when someone accepts an offer - but there might be various reasons why someone might accept an offer," he said.
"We have seen deliveries that are above what people have claimed, but there are other people I know who have said 'I've had enough, I've literally had enough' - the scheme might have been completed, rather than successful."
ITVThe Horizon accounting system, run by Japanese firm Fujitsu, made it look like money was missing from sub-postmasters' branch accounts.
About 1,000 people were wrongly prosecuted and convicted between 1999 and 2015, and 492 have been entitled to apply for compensation under the Group Litigation Order scheme.
There are three other compensation schemes for victims, with more than £1.5bn paid out in total, according to DBT.
Post Office Minister Blair McDougall said: "The postmasters in this group were the first to lead the charge for justice, and they deserve to see this chapter closed with the full and fair redress they are owed.
"Setting these deadlines is about making sure that happens, and I am determined that the remaining claims are resolved quickly and fairly, with proper support for anyone who needs it."