A fall of nearly 60% in the number of victims receiving payments from the criminal injuries compensation scheme, and an almost halving of the amount paid out since the Conservative government came to power, have been condemned by an alliance of charities.
Figures obtained from parliamentary questions show that in 2010-11, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) awarded £280m to 39,706 people who were hurt in attacks; six years later, in 2017-18, only 16,781 victims received £154m in compensation.
The charities Victim Support, Liberty, Barnardo’s and Rape Crisis have all called for an increase in the authority’s budget and criticised changes in eligibility introduced in 2012. The Ministry of Justice is consulting on reforming the scheme.
The figures are due to be raised by the shadow justice minister, Gloria De Piero, at justice questions in the Commons on Tuesday. Before the debate, she said: “Victims of violent crimes have suffered already. Cutting back on compensation payments with fewer and fewer getting anything at all tells you everything you need to know about this government’s cuts agenda. They fall hardest on those most in need.”
According to Victim Support, changes in the eligibility criteria after 2012 led to fewer payouts and reductions in sums awarded.
For example, an eye injury that required an operation used to entitle a victim to a payment of £4,400, but that fell in 2012 to £2,400. Similarly someone who suffered a fractured skull as a result of violent crime could previously receive up to £6,000; since 2012 they have been able to claim only up to £4,600.
Last autumn, the MoJ announced it would abolish the “same roof rule”, which dates back to 1979, and prevented the scheme making payments to victims who lived in the same home as their attacker – thus depriving many victims of sexual abuse of compensation.
In a joint statement, Victim Support, Liberty, Barnardo’s and Rape Crisis said: “As a coalition we have long called for fairer compensation for victims of child sexual abuse. It is deeply concerning to see the overall number of victims receiving payments has fallen so dramatically in recent years, particularly in light of the number of valid claims our organisations have seen rejected.
“The government’s welcome review of the compensation scheme presents a golden opportunity to make it truly fit for purpose. If necessary, the government must increase the budget for CICA so that victims get the compensation they rightly deserve.”
In its review, the MoJ has promised to look at the scope of the scheme and the definition of violent crime for the purposes of compensation for injury, and the eligibility rules including concerns about time limits for making applications, unspent convictions, and consent in sexual offences cases.
At the time, the justice secretary, David Gauke, said: “We will review the criminal injuries compensation scheme to ensure it reflects the changing nature of crime and can better support victims, especially of historic [sic] and current child abuse. Over the years we’ve seen more prosecutions for sexual offences and sadly experienced the horror of terrorism. We need to make sure these victims get the awards they’re due so we will be looking to ensure the criteria are appropriate.”
A spokesperson for the MoJ said: “Our ongoing review of the criminal injuries compensation scheme has one simple aim – to make sure it better supports victims. Indeed, last year we awarded compensation of more than £154m, and recently announced we are abolishing the same roof rule so that more victims can make claims.”
The figures for 2010-11 were said to have been inflated that year due to a £30m payout for compensation for asbestos-related conditions.