Victims' scheme 'unfair and divisive'

A Government scheme which compensates victims of violent crime is unfair and divisive, campaigners say.

The charity Victim Support has called for a complete overhaul of the system and said people who should be eligible for cash awards were being penalised by unfair and unjustifiable rules.

The existing set-up "discriminated" against people on benefits and some victims of sex crimes, including those "groomed" by paedophiles.

It also excluded people assaulted by someone living as a family member before October 1, 1979, the charity added.

The group urged the Government to correct the problems in a forthcoming review of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS).

"We urge them to use this opportunity to remedy these unethical and frankly indefensible anomalies in the compensation rules," said charity chief executive Dame Helen Reeves.

"Otherwise, those who have already suffered from acts of violence will continue to be subject to discrimination at the hands of the very system that is meant to demonstrate society's concern for them.

"For those who fall short of the rules, the current system is nothing short of re-victimisation."

In addition, a report by the charity said it was "grossly unfair" that relatives of a murder victim are denied compensation if the dead person had a criminal record.

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