New government plans give no financial relief to crime victims. Instead victims are given medical treatment, therapy or vouchers for treatment in lieu of money. Although seriously injured victims of crime will be receiving higher payments as the £500,000 single payout cap is replaced under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme reform.

The new proposals will not retrospectively apply to the July 7 bomb attack victims or those Britons that are injured by terrorist attacks abroad. Crime victims help groups spoke out in criticism for the reform proposals stating that even minimal monetary aid is a key factor in recognizing how violent crime affects the victim and the community.

Practical plans by the government to help victims instead of monetary compensation would be available quicker than the average 39 weeks it takes for most claims of £3,000 and under to be processed and paid. A Home Office minister, Ms. Mactaggart stated over fifty-seven percent of compensation awards go to those in the less seriously injured range of crime victims, meaning that a full two thirds of awards for compensation are within the £3,000 and under range.

By redefining the definition of seriousness of injury, pain and suffering sustained from a violent crime, the threshold has been raised as to what level of seriousness a person would receive monetary compensation as opposed to practical aid. Although no additional monies have been set aside for the scheme, the Home Office believes that by decreasing payouts there will be more monies available for seriously injured victims of crime.

One possible solution was raised in the consultation paper, passing the compensation responsibility to employers. Roughly 3,400 monetary awards are made for annual injuries sustained from violent crime at workplaces with a cost of £11.6 million per year, primarily for workers in the public sector, with police officers being around half of the successful claims made.

Ultimately the new scheme would result in 20,000 victims of violent crime losing their monetary compensation but they would receive practical aid such as safe rooms, new locks, and alarms instead and other practical assistance including a 24-hour national help line for crime victims. The government would hope this scheme would also result in these individuals not remaining victims for the rest of their lives but use the practical aid to move forward and be less dependent on the system for cash compensation.

Useful Links:
The Law Society
Criminal Injury
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
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