WARRINGTON South MP Andy Carter says he is keen to hear from any sub-postmasters in South Warrington impacted by the Post Office IT scandal.
Mr Carter is not aware of any sub-postmasters impacted within his constituency and has urged any who have been impacted to contact him directly to help clear their name and get their reputation restored.
Mr Carter said: “Having watched Mr Bate’s Vs The Post Office on ITV over the New Year I am totally appalled and angry at the awful and unjust way people were treated by their employer.
“Yesterday in Parliament I listened very carefully to the statement from the Minister with responsibility for the Post Office about the steps the Government has already taken and some additional steps it intends to take, to address miscarriages of justice against sub-postmasters.”
Ministers have drawn up plans to fast-track the appeals of 750 postmasters. The Lord Chancellor will put these to senior judges for consideration, and they will be announced to Parliament in the next few days.
The Government will give “proper consideration” to the role of private prosecutions.
Mr Carter added: “The Post Office were able to take action in the Courts without the overview of the CPS or any other body and If we are to make sure that a scandal like this can never happen again, we need to look at the way in which private prosecutions like these have been undertaken. They haven’t used private prosecutions since 2015 and I don’t believe they should ever again.
“Finally, a retired judge will independently review and decide on disputes that arise from the overturned conviction compensation scheme. Sir Gary Hickinbottom, who sat in the High Court, will chair a panel to independently oversee compensation payments to the 900 convicted postmasters.
“There are already three compensation schemes for different types of claims in place and I would urge anyone who hasn’t yet claimed and who is affected to come forward and make a claim. I am available to help anybody in Warrington South who may have been impacted to ensure your name is cleared and your reputation restored, even if a conviction was not secured.
“I am pleased the police are looking at this case in respect of fraud and perjury for those who gave evidence against sub-postmasters. I also urge the honours forfeiture committee to look carefully at the evidence which has now come to light and consider the validity of the awards made to those who knew or ought to have known about the unreliability of evidence and technology.”
Mr Carter can be contacted via [email protected]
