Hopes of DWP Horizon scandal breakthrough for Norwich family

Roger Allen, who previously ran the St John's Close post office in Lakenham, died in March and was convinced he was a victim of the national Horizon scandal.

Mr Allen, who died at his home in Rackheath on March 9, believed he was wrongly accused of stealing money by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), because of incorrect information from the highly controversial Horizon computer system.

Convicted in 2004, Mr Allen served six months in prison and had an attempt to overturn his conviction rejected by Court of Appeal judges in 2021.

Roger Allen was accused and convicted of a £37,000 fraud in 2004 by the DWP (Image: Keren Simpson)

However despite the DWP saying its cases "followed lengthy, complex investigations" recent reports suggest information was shared between the DWP and Post Office investigations team.

A public enquiry is continuing into the Post Office prosecuting hundreds of sub-postmasters based on Horizon evidence, but the DWP led around 100 prosecutions between 2001 and 2006 and these have been treated separately.

Mr Allen's daughter, Keren Simpson, has been fighting to clear her father's name.

The 46-year-old said: "We're feeling really positive there will be a breakthrough - it just needed to be brought to light.

Mr Allen's daughter, Keren Simpson, says the family are feeling really positive they'll be a breakthrough in clearing her father's name (Image: Newsquest)

"I definitely think there's now more of a chance my dad's name is cleared, but we still have a way to go.

"However we don't feel quite so left behind in all of this.

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"The saddest thing is Dad isn't here to see it. 

"As great as it is to see the DWP no longer getting away with it, he's no longer here to see this which is really upsetting for the family."

A recent report suggests information was shared between the DWP and Post Office investigations team (Image: PA Media)

The family has received support from people including Sir Robert Neill, with the Tory MP and barrister saying the DWP convictions "need to be looked at". 

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The chairman of the Justice Select Committee said: "There may have been material in the DWP case as a result of joint investigations - which suggests a disclosure failure.

"I think that's the area they need to look at if we are saying their approach was tainted from the beginning."

Roger Allen died at home on March 9, 2024 (Image: Keren Simpson)

Report suggests "joint working"

A report by the DWP in 2003 said there was "joint working" and "sharing of information" with the Post Office, a Sky News investigation has found.

It also stated there was a "Fraud Prevention Board" with the DWP and the Royal Mail Group which included "the exchange of information that directly assists fraud prevention and investigations".

There is also a 2003 letter which indicates a connection between the DWP and Post Office from the post affairs minister of the time, Stephen Timms, which references Roger Allen.