Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS) - Brighton & Hove Solicitors
Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS): compensation for quashed Post Office convictions - Brighton & Hove solicitors
When Mr Bates vs the Post Office aired, it brought renewed attention to one of the most significant miscarriages of justice in modern British history. The Horizon IT system faults led to hundreds of sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses being wrongly prosecuted for theft, fraud and false accounting. Lives and livelihoods were destroyed, leading to Parliament establishing a formal programme of redress.
What is the HCRS?
The Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS) opened on 30 July 2024 to compensate those whose Post Office convictions have been quashed. It is administered by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), not the Post Office, and its aim is simple: to deliver full and fair compensation without unnecessary delay.
If your Post Office conviction has been overturned, you can claim compensation under the HCRS. The scheme offers two main routes to redress:
1) Fixed sum-award: £600,000, paid in two instalments.
2) Detailed assessment: A full valuation of your individual financial and personal losses where you believe they exceed the fixed-sum option.
Eligible applicants receive an initial payment of £200,000 once registration and ID verification are complete.
Who can apply?
You can register if a court quashed your conviction or it was automatically overturned under the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Act 2024. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Act automatically cleared convictions that met the statutory criteria.
If your conviction had already been overturned under the previous Overturned Convictions Scheme, your claim should have been migrated into HCRS. The DBT contacted affected individuals during 2024 and again in 2025.
There is also practical follow-up work being done. HMCTS and the police are amending records so that quashed convictions no longer appear in police databases or on future DBS checks. If you believe you qualify but have not received a letter, you can still register.
What compensation is available?
You can choose between:
I. Fixed sum of £600,000: paid as £200,000 upfront and £400,000 following confirmation of eligibility.
II. Detailed assessment: where losses may exceed the fixed amount.
The detailed assessment route follows a published framework guided by Lord Dyson’s report and general legal principles. Its aim is to restore you to the position you would have been in had you not been prosecuted or convicted.
If you start the assessment process but later prefer the fixed sum, you can still switch to the £600,000 option within three months of receiving your first offer.
Losses covered may include:
· Money repaid to cover “prosecution short falls” or sums under confiscation or compensation orders.
· Shortfalls repaid before prosecution.
· Business, employment and pension losses.
· Stigma, distress and loss of liberty.
Compound interest is generally added from the date the loss occurred.
How the process works
The process is intended to be straightforward. Once ID checks are complete and the scheme’s fraud safeguard declaration is signed, the £200,000 interim payment is issued.
You and your solicitor then decide whether to accept the fixed £600,000 or pursue a detailed assessment using the official framework and evidence pack (known as the “disclosure bundle”).
If you choose the detailed route and provide a complete application, a further £250,000 is paid to bring your interim total to £450,000 while the final calculation is made.
When the assessment offer arrives, you have three months to accept it or revert to the fixed sum. If you disagree with the outcome, an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process is available. This begins with facilitated discussions managed by Dentons, and if necessary, an independent panel review.
Tax, benefits and insolvency considerations
Payments under HCRS are tax-free. They are also ignored for means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit, meaning your entitlement should not be affected.
If you are uncertain about how compensation might interact with your individual financial position, it is sensible to take advice from a qualified tax professional.
Legal costs and why the choice of solicitor matters
The Government pays reasonable legal costs for HCRS claims under an approved framework. Law firms that work within this structure can recover their fees directly from the scheme, ensuring that claimants are not left out of pocket.
At Acumen Law, we operate fully within this framework. Our clients do not pay legal fees for their HCRS application, and there are no hidden costs for our involvement.
Why instruct Acumen Law?
Based in Brighton & Hove, our dispute resolution team guides clients across England and Wales through every stage of the HCRS process. We handle the paperwork, liaise with the Department for Business and Trade, and make sure your application is complete and persuasive.
We prepare:
· A clear timeline of events and payments made.
· Evidence of how your conviction affected your work, business and daily life.
· Supporting documents such as tax data and financial records.
For those choosing the fixed-sum route, we make the process fast and stress-free. For clients opting for detailed assessment, we prepare the case methodically, secure interim payments where eligible, and keep you informed throughout in plain English.
When an offer is made, we explain your options clearly so you can decide whether to accept, negotiate or switch to the fixed sum. Every step is handled professionally and with care.
Because we work within the Government’s cost framework, our service is provided at no cost to you if you are eligible.
Ready to talk?
If your Post Office conviction has been quashed and you live in Brighton & Hove, Sussex, or anywhere in England and Wales, we can help you pursue full and fair redress under the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme.
Contact Acumen Law today to discuss your eligibility, understand what documents you will need, and take the next step toward restoring what was lost.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS)
1. Who can apply for compensation under the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme?
Anyone whose Post Office conviction has been quashed by a court or automatically overturned under the Post Office (Horizon System)Offences Act 2024 can apply. This includes people whose convictions were previously overturned and transferred from the earlier Overturned Convictions scheme.
2. How much compensation can I receive through HCRS?
You can choose a fixed sum of £600,000 or request a detailed assessment if your losses exceed that amount. Interim payments of £200,000 and £250,000 are available depending on the stage of your claim.
3. Are payments from HCRS tax-free?
Yes. Payments are exempt from tax and are disregarded for means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit.
4. Do I need a solicitor to apply for HCRS?
It is strongly recommended. The process involves legal and evidential steps. The Government pays reasonable legal costs for eligible claimants under a set framework, so you should not need to pay out of pocket.
5. What if I disagree with the compensation offer?
You can use the scheme’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process. It begins with facilitated discussions and can progress to an Independent Panel review.
6. How long does the HCRS process take?
Timeframes depend on whether you choose the fixed-sum or detailed assessment route, but the Department for Business and Trade aims to deliver compensation as quickly as possible once eligibility is confirmed.
7. Can I switch from the detailed assessment to the fixed-sum payment later?
Yes. You can switch to the £600,000 fixed-sum payment within three months of receiving your first detailed offer.
