Almost 70 new potential victims of the Post Office scandal have come forward since last week’s ITV drama was aired.
Lawyers representing subpostmasters and subpostmistresses wrongly convicted said that 50 had got in touch by Friday,
with “approaching another 20” making contact yesterday.
More than 700 Post Office branch managers were handed criminal convictions after Fujitsu’s faulty Horizon accounting software made it appear as though money was missing from their outlets.
It has been described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history and a public inquiry into it is continuing.
Scotland Yard yesterday confirmed it is now “investigating potential fraud offences arising out of these prosecutions”, for example “monies recovered from sub-postmasters as a result of prosecutions or civil actions”.
The Met was already looking into potential offences of perjury and perverting the course of justice in relation to probes and prosecutions carried out by the Post Office. Two people have been interviewed under caution, but with no arrests.
After ITV aired Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, starring Toby Jones, potential new victims have been contacting Neil Hudgell, of Hudgell Solicitors, who has helped 73 former subpostmasters quash convictions. He said: “The drama has elevated public awareness to a whole new level. The public’s overwhelming sympathy for these poor people has given some the strength to finally come forward.”
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has insisted the Government will do all it can to speed up compensation.
He said: “We have started paying compensation, nearly £150million, to around 3,000 people.”
Mr Hudgell said his clients have welcomed the police investigation, as well as the Government inquiry, adding: “They want to see people properly held to account.”
Meanwhile, the Post Office still has a contract worth £36million a year with IT supplier Fujitsu to use two of its data centres.
