The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
awards compensation to over 30,000 people each year who are
seriously injured following a crime of violence. Cuts to the scheme
proposed by the Tory-led Coalition will mean half of victims will
receive nothing in future and almost 90% will lose out, including
the most seriously injured and even the children of murder
victims.
The Government is scheduled to make a second
attempt to force through the cuts when the House of Commons returns
next week and a revised and drastically weakened Criminal Injuries
Compensation Scheme could be in place by 5 November.
Usdaw is campaigning hard against the cuts on
behalf of the many shopworkers injured every year in robberies and
assaults at work. Commenting on Chris Grayling's speech,
John Hannett, Usdaw's General Secretary said:
"Chris Grayling's failure to even mention
support for victims, let alone rule out cutting that support is
extremely disappointing and makes Tory claims to be on the side of
victims ring very hollow indeed.
"The imminent cuts to the Criminal Injuries
Compensation Scheme are grossly disproportionate. They will have a
profoundly damaging impact on the victims of violent crime and
their families yet make little if any difference to the state of
the nation's finances.
"If the Government is really serious about
putting victims of crime first it should scrap the cuts to the
Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme."
Notes for Editors:
- The revised Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme was due to
come into force on 30 September, but Justice Minister Helen Grant
was forced to withdraw it after it was savaged by both Conservative
and Labour MPs in Committee on 10 September. The proceedings of the
Committee can be heard at: www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=11385 and
read at:
www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/this-weeks-public-bill-general-committee-debates/read/?date=2012-09-10&itemId=126
- The Ministry of Justice has re-listed the Criminal Injuries
Compensation Scheme as legislation to be taken before 22 October
(see: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmfbusi/c01.htm).
This means the scheme and any revisions that ministers choose to
make, are scheduled to be considered from the week commencing 15
October, when the House of Commons returns after the conference
season.
- The Ministry of Justice has also confirmed that, if the
original proposals are adjusted, a further revised scheme could be
rushed through both the House of Lords and a House of Commons
Delegated Legislation Committee in just one day, allowing little if
any opportunity for changes to be scrutinised. The new compensation
scheme would then take effect just two weeks after the legislation
was passed - by 5 November at the latest.
- Despite the Government continuing to suggest otherwise, the
current scheme is already on a sustainable financial footing and
not even the most seriously affected victims would receive a penny
more from the revised scheme.
- For further information on the cuts to the Criminal Injuries
Compensation Scheme and Usdaw's campaign against them please visit
www.usdaw.org.uk/compensation
- Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is
the UK's fourth biggest and fastest growing trade union with over
420,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 17% in the
last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade. Most
Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union also has
many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing,
chemicals and other trades.