Sir Alan Bates has expressed his concerns to Sky News about the government’s new Capture Redress Scheme, describing it as «half-baked.» The campaigner for the Post Office scandal also raised issues about officials not learning from past compensation failures.
Capture, a faulty computer software used in approximately 2,500 branches between 1992 and 1999 before the Horizon scandal, led to sub-postmasters fabricating accounting shortfalls at their own expense, resulting in some being convicted of theft.
Sir Alan Bates, who settled his redress claim with the government related to Horizon, revealed that he may have also been a victim of Capture. He explained that documentation shows a PC running Capture was part of their sub-post office inventory until replaced by the Horizon system in 2000.
Despite this, Sir Alan expressed concern that the current claim process may prevent him from submitting a claim, highlighting flaws in the eligibility assessment by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
The government spokesperson responded to these concerns by stating that victims impacted by Capture would finally receive redress after years of fighting for justice. Eligible applicants will receive an interim payment of £10,000, with the possibility of higher awards in exceptional cases.
Documents obtained by Sky News revealed that the Post Office was aware of faults in the Capture software prior to its rollout in 1992. Notes from a meeting of the Capture steering group disclosed issues with corrupted files and data loss due to power outages.
Rupert Lloyd-Thomas, a campaigner for Capture victims, criticized the Post Office for not addressing these issues before the software launch. Post Office acknowledged the past failings that caused suffering to postmasters, emphasizing their commitment to rectifying past wrongs.
Steve Marston, a former Post Office branch manager convicted of theft due to Capture issues, expressed his lack of surprise at the revelations, noting the software should never have been released in the first place.
The Post Office encouraged individuals with relevant Capture-related information to come forward, emphasizing their cooperation with investigations to ensure justice for affected parties. The ongoing efforts to address the Capture scandal highlights the importance of accountability and redress for those impacted.
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