Post Office Capture Scandal

Introduction to the Scandal

A Post Office Capture victim, Steve Marston, has expressed his fear that he may never see his name cleared due to delays in the justice system. Marston was convicted in 1998 of stealing almost £80,000 from his store based on faulty older computer software called Capture, which is at the center of the infamous Horizon scandal.

The Case of Steve Marston

Marston’s case has been before the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) for almost a year but has still not been referred to the Court of Appeal. He turns 70 in February and is concerned that he may not live to see the resolution of his case. Marston describes the wait as "unbearable" and "soul destroying," stating that he thinks about it every day and has a permanent knot in his stomach.

The CCRC’s Handling of Capture Cases

The CCRC announced in July that the case of the late Pat Owen, a subpostmaster convicted in 1998, would be referred to the Court of Appeal. Owen’s case has officially been referred to the court, three months after the decision for reference. However, other victims like Marston are still waiting for justice. The CCRC chair, Dame Vera Baird, has stated that capture cases would be given "the priority we can give them." She acknowledged that the main problem with these cases is the lack of information and written evidence.

Calls for a Special Solution

Victims’ lawyer Neil Hudgell has called for a "special solution" to shorten the process for capture cases. He believes that the expansion of the government’s mass relief laws, which currently only applies to Horizon victims, could offer a quicker solution. Hudgell argues that these cases need to be treated on an exceptional basis due to the age of the victims and the circumstances of their convictions.

Efforts to Expedite the Process

Dame Vera Baird has stated that the CCRC is "quite understaffed" but is recruiting more staff to handle the cases. A special group of case review managers has been set up to handle capture cases, and experienced officers are on standby to expedite the process when cases are disposed of. The CCRC has also made a special application to "fast-track" the Owen case through the Court of Appeal.

Cooperation from the Post Office

A Post Office spokesperson has stated that they continue to cooperate fully with the CCRC by providing documents and information requested in relation to convictions prior to Horizon. While they cannot comment on individual cases, they continue to support the CCRC in processing pre-Horizon convictions.