Horizon scandal victim says new law is small step

Seema Misra's conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2021

Plans to clear the names of wrongly convicted sub-postmasters have been described as a "tiny step forward" by a woman from Surrey who was wrongfully jailed.

Sub-postmistress Seema Misra was pregnant with her second son when she was sent to prison for an alleged £70,000 shortfall at the West Byfleet branch she ran.

A new law being introduced on Wednesday is expected to exonerate the majority of victims in England and Wales by the end of July.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it is "an important step forward in finally clearing" hundreds of sub-postmasters.

The proposed Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill will help people whose lives had been "callously torn apart", Mr Sunak said.

Mrs Misra told BBC Radio Surrey the plans were "a very tiny step forward".

She called for an independent body to take charge of the compensation scheme, but said the government's decision to step in was a positive move.

She said: "There are so many people who are still waiting for their money, that needs to be sorted as well."

In 2010, Mrs Misra she was given a 15 month sentence in Bronzefield Prison.

She lied to her parents, who were living in India and have since died, to protect them from the truth that their daughter was in jail.

Wrongly convicted

The government's plans include an "enhanced" financial redress for sub-postmasters who, while not convicted or part of legal action against the Post Office, made good the apparent losses caused by the Horizon system from their own pockets.

Those wrongly convicted will get an option to settle for £600,000, without the need to bring a formal claim.

The government said the new Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme will be open for applications "as soon as possible" for people who have had their convictions quashed.

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