The justice secretary is assembly with senior judges immediately to debate methods to speed up the appeals of these convicted within the Horizon scandal, with cupboard minister Mel Stride saying an announcement may come this week.
The authorities is going through recent calls to behave following the airing of the ITV drama, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, which returned the highlight to the scandal.
Between 1999 and 2015, greater than 700 Post Office department managers have been convicted after the defective Horizon software program made it seem like cash was lacking from their retailers.
Politics newest: Sunak kicks off 2024 with cupboard assembly
Speaking to Sky News, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride mentioned his colleague, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, is having discussions with “senior members within the justice system to see what can be done to expedite and accelerate” these interesting their convictions.
“My understanding is that they are happening now. So this is something that is happening hour by hour. It’s not something that’s going to happen next week. It is happening right now. And we intend to move quickly,” mentioned Mr Stride.
“It’s actually essential that we do that as a result of lots of people clearly have suffered not simply financially, however when it comes to their psychological well being and relationships and their standing within the native communities and so forth.
“We are moving now at very considerable pace.”
Two former justice secretaries have known as for laws to override the convictions, though different choices mooted embrace a mass enchantment, or eradicating the Post Office from the appeals course of.
Asked if it will be this week when the subsequent steps can be introduced, he added he couldn’t say the precise day, however it will be in that “order of timescale”.
He added: “I think the important thing is that, albeit it’s just going to be a matter of a few days now, that those discussions are detailed and come to the best possible way of achieving this outcome.”
This breaking information story is being up to date and extra particulars will probably be printed shortly.
Please refresh the web page for the fullest model.
You can obtain Breaking News alerts on a smartphone or pill by way of the Sky News App. You also can comply with @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to maintain up with the newest information.
Source: information.sky.com”