New legislation will clear and compensate sub-postmasters who were the victims of what has been called the UK’s most widespread miscarriage of justice.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Hundreds were wrongly prosecuted after faulty software said money was missing from Post Office branch accounts. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The next phase of a public inquiry into what went wrong begins on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n More than 900 sub-postmasters were prosecuted for stealing because of incorrect information from a computer system called Horizon. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Post Office itself took many cases to court, prosecuting 700 people between 1999 and 2015.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Another 283 cases were brought by other bodies, including the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Many went to prison for false accounting and theft. Many were financially ruined.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n It resumes on Tuesday 9 April and is due to last several weeks, with campaigner Alan Bates and former Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells among those due to give evidence during this phase.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Politicians who had responsibility for overseeing the Post Office will also appear.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n It was introduced by the Post Office in 1999. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Sub-postmasters quickly complained about bugs in the system after it falsely reported shortfalls – often for many thousands of pounds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Many former sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses say the scandal ruined their lives. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Some used their own money to cover non-existent shortfalls because their contracts said they were responsible for unexplained losses. Many faced bankruptcy or lost their livelihoods. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Marriages broke down, and some families believe the stress led to serious health conditions, addiction and even premature death.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told MPs “We will make sure that the truth comes to light.”<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n The law, which applies to convictions in England and Wales, is expected to clear most victims by the end of July.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Convictions will be automatically quashed if they were:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Affected sub-postmasters will receive an interim payment, or can instead accept a fixed and final offer of \u00a3600,000. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Downing Street previously said it would work with Scotland and Northern Ireland to ensure people wrongly accused in those nations would also be cleared. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Post Office Minister Kevin Hollinrake previously said the government has budgeted \u00a31bn for compensation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n More than 4,000 people were told they are eligible, under three schemes:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Prof Chris Hodges, chair of the the independent Horizon Compensation Advisory Board, told the BBC that some individual compensation claims were “well over \u00a31m”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhat is the Post Office Horizon scandal?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
What is the Post Office Horizon public inquiry?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"line\"](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/1FCD\/production\/_105914180_line976-nc.png.webp)
<\/picture><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nMore on the Post Office scandal<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
<\/picture><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWhat is Fujitsu’s Horizon system?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
What was the effect on Post Office staff?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"Prime](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/16482\/production\/_132266219_pmqs-index1.jpg.webp)
<\/picture><\/noscript><\/span><\/span>Image source, <\/span>HoC<\/span><\/div>\n
What other Horizon compensation schemes are in place?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Who has been criticised for the Horizon scandal?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n