Overview

This bill amends the law relating to offences potentially linked to the Post Office's Horizon system. It aims to clarify the circumstances under which prosecutions can be brought, addressing concerns raised about previous convictions based on data from this system.

Description

The bill focuses on modifying Clause 2, which deals with the admissibility of evidence related to the Horizon system in criminal proceedings. The amendment introduces two crucial changes:

• Amendment (a): This part clarifies the conditions under which evidence from the Horizon system can be used to support a prosecution.
• Amendment (b): This adds a crucial element stipulating that if an alleged offence occurred during a period where the Horizon system was used for Post Office business, even partially, the system's data could be considered as evidence.

Essentially, the amendments aim to improve the legal framework around Horizon-related prosecutions, providing more specific guidelines for using Horizon system data as evidence.

Government Spending

The bill's impact on government spending isn't explicitly stated in the provided text. The amendments primarily affect legal processes and may result in costs associated with potential retrials or legal challenges, but precise figures are unavailable.

Groups Affected

This bill primarily affects:

• Former Post Office subpostmasters/mistresses: The amendments could impact individuals previously convicted based on Horizon system data, potentially leading to appeals or exonerations.
• The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS): The CPS will need to adapt their prosecution strategies based on the amended legislation.
• The Post Office: The bill's outcome could have financial and reputational implications for the Post Office.
• The Judiciary: Judges will need to interpret and apply the amended law in future cases.

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