Post Office compensation schemes 'cruel and never-ending'

BBC

Victims of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal have said the compensation process is "cruel", "never-ending" and designed to make them want to give up.

Former sub-postmasters told the BBC they are still waiting for final settlements to be agreed, years after hundreds of victims were accused of stealing money that found to be the fault of an accounting system.

A report from an official inquiry into the scandal said it had had a "disastrous" impact on those wrongly accused and prosecuted for criminal offences.

Maria Lockwood, who ran a Post Office in Huddersfield, said compensation for victims could have been settled "a long time ago", but instead it is a "cruel, cruel" process.

Appearing on BBC Breakfast to discuss the report, 10 former sub-postmasters and postmistresses all agreed that the compensation schemes feel designed to make them give up.

Mr Lockwook said victims are being asked to show evidence often dating back more than 20 years.

Tracy Felstead, who went to prison when she was 19 years old, said her claim has been in since February.

However, all she has had since then is multiple questions. "We're still being asked for more and more," she said.

Scott Darlington, who was sub-postmaster of Alderley Edge Post Office, was doubtful that the government will act on the report.

"Will they take any of the recommendations? They're not obliged to, and their track record shows that they've tried to avoid things that they have to do."