Victim compensation scheme criticised

MPs have criticised the scheme for compensating people injured in violent attacks, claiming it throws into doubt government claims to re-balance the justice system in favour of the victim.

The Commons public accounts committee said ministers had given the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) a "low priority", despite its pledge to place victims "at the heart of the criminal justice system".

In a report published on Thursday, the MPs said less than five per cent of those eligible for compensation were applying.

It found that two-thirds of victims were unaware of the scheme, and those who did apply were held back by a complicated application form.

Others experienced delays in receiving their money because of bureaucracy, the report said.

There was a 23 per cent drop in applications between 2000 and 2006, it said, but it noted that the time taken to resolve the average complaint has risen from one year to 17 months.

Meanwhile, the costs of administering the scheme increased by £6m in those six years, with staff productivity at a lower level.

Committee chairman Edward Leigh said: "The Ministry of Justice's declared objective is to place victims at the heart of the criminal justice system. If the scheme for compensating victims of violent crime is anything to go by, that objective is a long way from fulfilment.

"Eight years ago, our committee gave a withering verdict on how the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority was performing. Since then that performance has deteriorated even further.

"A large proportion of citizens who are injured by violent criminals are left in ignorance of the compensation scheme, leading to the absurd situation that only five per cent apply for compensation.

"The tiny proportion which applies is then stymied by complex application forms. A good many applicants waste money on being represented by solicitors because no one in authority saw fit to draw their attention to the free service provided by Victim Support.

"Cases are processed inefficiently and are therefore taking longer to resolve. And the cost of processing each case has leapt by 50 per cent."

Leigh commended the MoJ and the CICA for putting a performance management framework in place and improving the accountability system.

"We expect the Ministry to report to this committee before the end of this Parliament on its progress in reforming a scheme to which it has hitherto given a low priority," he said.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said CICA had improved services since 2006 and that faster decisions were being made as the handling process became more efficient.

"The government continues to improve the quality of the practical and emotional support victims receive, providing access to compensation, ensuring they have timely access to information, and ensuring their voice is heard in the system," he said.

And how often has the CICA refused payment to a genuine person because the CICA fluffed up the paper work or reduced the payment by a high percentage because they didn't believe the injuries sustained caused the amount of suffering the applicant says, despite having medical evidence.

Not many people know they can be compensated when they are attacked and often the victim of an unprovoked assault.