Crime compensation 'too slow'

Crime victims may have to wait to receive compensation

Victims of violent crime have to wait too long to receive compensation, according to a report by a panel of MPs.

They found it can take up to two years for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority to resolve cases - and there are wide regional variations.

The Public Accounts Committee discovered it took an average of eight months to decide a payout, but if cases went under review it would take another six months and if there was an appeal, a further eight.

Tory MP David Davis, chairman of the committee, said better management would see the system speeded up.

It's too much that the victims of crime can also be the victims of bureaucracy

David Davis
Committee chairman

He said it was unacceptable that it could be several years between the time a person is injured and them receiving compensation from the law.

"It's too much that the victims of crime can also be the victims of bureaucracy," he said.

Under the compensation scheme, members of the public receive sums ranging from £1,000 to £250,000, according to the severity of their injuries.

Mr Davis said if someone was forced to wait for years to receive compensation it could add to the stress of the original crime.

David Davis: Better management needed

He also highlighted regional disparities between people claiming compensation and said victims were entitled to equal access to the scheme.

"At present there appear to be wide regional variations in awareness of the scheme," Mr Davis said. "This is wholly unacceptable."

He said the way to improve the system was simply a question of better management and was confident the report would bring about change.

"The Lord Chancellor's department recognised it was a problem and recognised something needed to be solved," Mr Davis said.