Capture: Victims of second Post Office scandal to receive ‘recognition’ payments before compensation
The government will give ‘recognition’ payments to Post Office Capture victims before they receive full compensation.
Former sub-postmasters and their families who are entitled to redress have been told the initial amount, which is yet to be finalised, could be £10,000.
Capture was a faulty computer system used by sub postmasters in the 1990s – before the Horizon scandal.
A report last year found the software is likely to have caused errors in accounting.
A redress scheme is currently being set up for those affected and could possibly be introduced by the end of the summer.
Steve Marston, a Capture user who was convicted of stealing from his Post Office in 1996, describes “quite a lot of progress” at a government meeting but raised concerns over pace.
He told Sky News: “I’m more than happy that the compensation scheme is going to be put in place as quickly as possible.
“None of us are guaranteed how long we’re going to be here. We just want people to see recognition as soon as possible.”
Steve Marston with his wife Jan
Ken Tooby’s late wife June was a Capture victim. Ken is seriously ill in hospital so his family has sent a plea to the government to “sort this Capture business asap”.
June Tooby represented herself in court in 2003 and challenged the Post Office over its “faulty” software system.
The evidence she compiled led to the Kroll investigation into Capture concluding there was a “reasonable likelihood” the software caused accounting errors.
Another victim, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Sky News he was “frustrated” at the slow progress of redress, describing it as “like pulling teeth”.
He also raised concerns over interim payments potentially being “too low”, claiming the government may be trying to “keep people sweet”.
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PO miscarriages of justice cases ‘double’
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), meanwhile, is currently investigating 28 convictions and it’s hoped decisions will be made over whether to refer cases to the Court of Appeal by the end of the year.
Neil Hudgell, lawyer for Capture victims, said there was a “positive dialogue” at the latest meeting between government officials and families.
“The real frustration is the time it takes because of the processes that are involved,” he said. “I can see why it would take as long as it has.
“But [victims] just want peace and to see the end of it… There’s a real acute need to bring matters to a close.”
On timescales, he said there were “no guarantees” but a “guesstimate” was that redress will start “to flow… in the second half of the year”.
Mr Hudgell said he would be “disappointed” if conviction cases have not been progressed by the CCRC by this autumn.
“I don’t under emphasise the amount of work they’ve got – it involves multiple cases… I think they’ve got enough evidence now to start to formulate a decision,” he said.
A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: “Postmasters have already endured immeasurable suffering, and we continue to listen to those who have been sharing their stories on the Capture system.
“Ensuring postmasters are treated with dignity and respect is our absolute priority.
“Officials met with postmasters [on Wednesday] as part of our commitment to develop an effective and fair redress process for those affected by Capture.
“We will continue to update on the development of the redress mechanism as it progresses.”
MPs have voted to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales.
The amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, abolishing the prosecution of women for terminating their pregnancy at any stage, passed by 379 votes to 137.
It represents the biggest shake-up in reproductive rights for almost 60 years.
Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, who tabled the so-called “New Clause One” (NC1), said it would ensure women do not face investigation, arrest, prosecution or imprisonment in relation to any pregnancies.
She said the current “Victorian” laws had been used against vulnerable women, citing cases such as Nicola Packer, who was prosecuted on suspicion of having an illegal abortion. She was found not guilty in May.
“Nicola’s story is deplorable, but there are many others,” Ms Antoniazzi said.
Abortion in England and Wales is currently a criminal offence but is legal with an authorised provider for up to 24 weeks after conception. The procedure is allowed after this time in very limited circumstances.
It is also legal to take prescribed related medication at home if a woman is less than 10 weeks pregnant.
Ms Antoniazzi said NC1 was “a narrow, targeted measure” that would not change how abortion services were provided or the rules under the 1967 Abortion Act.
Pro-choice campaigners demonstrating for decriminalising abortion in the UK
She said: “The 24 [week] limit remains. Abortions still require the approval of signatures of two doctors, and women would still have to meet the grounds laid out in the Act.”
The MP said that meant healthcare professionals “acting outside the law and abusive partners using violence or poisoning to end a pregnancy would still be criminalised, as they are now.”
She added: “This piece of legislation will only take women out of the criminal justice system because they are vulnerable and they need our help.
“As I have said before, and I will say it again, just what public interest is this serving? This is not justice, it is cruelty and it has got to end.”
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Should abortion be decriminalised?
The change will not come into effect immediately as the Crime and Policing Bill is still making its way through Parliament.
A separate amendment, put forward by Labour MP Stella Creasy, went further with a measure to “lock in” the right of a person to have an abortion while protecting those who help them.
However, her amendment was not voted on because Ms Antoniazzi’s passed, as expected.
Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh, speaking against both amendments, described them as “not pro-woman” and argued they “would introduce sex-selective abortion”.
How did MPs vote?
MPs were given a free vote on the amendment, as is typically the case with so-called matters of conscience.
A breakdown of the vote showed it was passed overwhelmingly by Labour and Lib Dem MPs.
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Just eight Conservative MPs voted in favour, while all Reform UK MPs opposed the amendment, with the exception of the party’s leader Nigel Farage, who abstained.
Sir Keir Starmer was not present for the vote as he is currently in Canada for the G7 summit, but said earlier that his “longstanding in-principle position is that women have the right to a safe and legal abortion”.
The issue of women investigated by police over suspected illegal abortions has been in the spotlight due to several recent high-profile cases.
Ms Packer was cleared by a jury last month after taking prescribed abortion medicine at home when she was around 26 weeks pregnant, beyond the legal limit of 10 weeks.
In the Commons, Ms Antoniazzi cited another case of a young mother who was jailed for two years after she was forced to take illegal abortion medication by her abusive partner. He was never investigated.
The UK-US trade deal has been signed and is “done”, US President Donald Trump has said as he met Sir Keir Starmer at the G7 summit.
The US president told reporters in Canada: “We signed it, and it’s done. It’s a fair deal for both. It’ll produce a lot of jobs, a lot of income.”
Sir Keir said the document “implements” the deal to cut tariffs on cars and aerospace, describing it as a “really important agreement”.
“So this is a very good day for both of our countries – a real sign of strength,” the prime minister added.
Mr Trump added that the UK was “very well protected” against any future tariffs, saying: “You know why? Because I like them”.
However, he did not say whether levies on British steel exports to the US would be set to 0%, saying “we’re gonna let you have that information in a little while”.
Mr Trump also praised Sir Keir as a “great” prime minister, adding: “We’ve been talking about this deal for six years, and he’s done what they haven’t been able to do.”
He added: “We’re very longtime partners and allies and friends and we’ve become friends in a short period of time.
“He’s slightly more liberal than me to put it mildly… but we get along.”
Sir Keir added that “we make it work”.
As the pair exited a mountain lodge in the Canadian Rockies where the summit is being held, Mr Trump held up a physical copy of the trade agreement to show reporters.
Several leaves of paper fell from the binding, and Sir Keir quickly stooped to pick them up, saying: “A very important document.”
Sir Keir Starmer picks up paper from the UK-US trade deal after Donald Trump dropped it at the G7 summit. Pic: Reuters
The US president also appeared to mistakenly refer to a “trade agreement with the European Union” at one point as he stood alongside the British prime minister.
Mr Trump announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs on countries in April. At the time, he announced 10% “reciprocal” rates on all UK exports – as well as separately announced 25% levies on cars and steel.
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In a joint televised phone call in May, Sir Keir and Mr Trump announced the UK and US had agreed on a trade deal – but added the details were being finalised.
Ahead of the G7 summit, the prime minister said he would meet Mr Trump for “one-on-one” talks, and added the agreement “really matters for the vital sectors that are safeguarded under our deal, and we’ve got to implement that”.
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