DWP dealing with of prosecutions of Put up Workplace workers to be examined in unbiased evaluate | UK Information

About 100 prosecutions had been carried out by the DWP between 2001 and 2006 through the Horizon IT scandal.

The “independent assurance review”, nonetheless, is but to be commissioned and won’t have a look at particular person circumstances.

Lots of of subpostmasters had been wrongfully convicted of stealing by the Put up Workplace between 1999 and 2015, because of the defective Horizon IT system.

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2:55

What did we study from the Put up Workplace inquiry?

They described circumstances as “complex investigations” which they mentioned had been “backed by evidence including filmed surveillance, stolen benefit books and witness statements”.

In addition they added that “to date no documentation has been identified showing that Horizon data was essential to these prosecutions”.

The evaluate will have a look at a time period spanning 20 years coated by the Put up Workplace (Horizon System) Offences Act 2024, from September 1996 to December 2018.

The Horizon Act was successfully blanket exoneration laws which mechanically quashed Put up Workplace convictions however didn’t embrace DWP or Seize-related prosecutions.

Picture:Roger Allen

The household of Roger Allen, who was convicted in 2004 of stealing pension funds by the DWP and sentenced to 6 months in jail, are “frustrated” the evaluate gained’t have a look at his or different circumstances.

Mr Allen died in March final yr, nonetheless attempting to clear his title.

Keren Simpson, his daughter, describes the evaluate as a “development” however a “fob off”.

“I think it’s just getting us off their backs,” she mentioned, “I’ll imagine it after I see it as a result of they’re not taking any accountability.

“They’re not acknowledging something. They’re denying every thing.

“No one’s saying, look, we really need to dig in and have a look at all these cases to see if there’s the same pattern here.”

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1:29

‘Everyday life was a struggle’ – former sub-postmistress

Mr Allen pleaded responsible to spare his spouse – after his lawyer informed him in a letter that there had been “an indication from the Crown that they may discontinue the proceedings against Mrs Allen were you minded to plead guilty”.

Regardless of the Prison Instances Overview Fee deciding Mr Allen had grounds to attraction towards his conviction, it was upheld by the Court docket of Enchantment in 2021.

The unbiased evaluate will have a look at the “methodology and processes” utilized by the DWP, and the “thoroughness and adequacy” of efforts to acquire case paperwork.

The DWP say that the evaluate gained’t be commenting on particular person circumstances or these which have been dismissed by the Court docket of Enchantment.

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11:28

Put up Workplace: The misplaced ‘Capture’ information

Potential reviewers will even be approached with expertise “outside of the civil service”.

They are going to be requested to provide a report with suggestions for any additional actions inside six months of beginning their evaluate.

Lawyer Neil Hudgell, instructed by a few of these prosecuted, described the evaluate as “wholly inadequate”, saying the DWP “should not be marking its own homework.”

“Any involvement in the process of appointing reviewers undermines all confidence in the independence of the process,” he added.

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2:48

‘All we want is her name cleared’

He additionally criticised the DWP’s assertion as “strikingly defensive and closed minded”.

“It cannot be anything approaching rigorous or robust without a proper case by case review of all affected cases, including those dismissed by the Court of Appeal.”

He mentioned that the place lots of of convictions had been quashed “at the stroke of a pen” a correct and “targeted” evaluate is “the least these poor victims are owed.”

“At the moment there is a widespread feeling among the group that they have been “left behind and that is both legally and morally wrong.”

In response to questions over what number of prosecutions concerned responsible pleas with no trial, the DWP mentioned the knowledge had been destroyed “in accordance with departmental records management practices” and in keeping with knowledge safety.