Usdaw welcomes the call for a review to improve justice for injured workers

As part of his speech to the House of Commons, Laurence Turner said: “From time to time, this House has asked itself the question: ‘what value do we place on support for the victims of violent crime?’ I believe that this is the right time to ask ourselves that question again. The legislation would set out a simple requirement for a fundamental review, and for Ministers to report back to the House with proposals for further scrutiny and debate. This issue touches the lives of people in every one of our constituencies. No amount of money can return someone to their mental or physical state prior to an assault, but a well-functioning, fair and compassionate scheme can bring victims some measure of justice.”

Paddy Lillis - Usdaw general secretary says: “We welcome this call for a fundamental review of CICA. The current scheme was changed by the Coalition Government in 2012, which was opposed by Usdaw, the Labour Party and countless other organisations who represent victims of violent crime. Usdaw continues to contend that the scheme is not fit for purpose and requires urgent updates and amendments. In an attempt to mitigate the failings of the current scheme, Usdaw has introduced its own scheme to provide some form of compensation to members who have sustained criminal injuries in the course of their employment.

“Key changes to the CICA scheme that we would like to see are based around broadening the access for workers injured by a criminal. So that means ending the requirement for the victim being in regular work for three years before the incident, and widening the scope so that what are currently treated as ‘minor injuries’ are included; at the moment some head injuries can be excluded. We also want to ensure the level of compensation is appropriate for the injury. So, we want awards to increase in line with inflation - it is still at 2012 levels; an end to the limit on maximum awards, or at least increased with inflation; and awards should be based on average earnings.

“Too many of our members are suffering injuries from criminals - not least those working on the frontline in retail stores. Increased retail crime has swept the country; shoplifting has more than doubled since the pandemic and, too often, that can be a flashpoint for assault. Usdaw is working with the Government on measures to prevent crime, but when the worst happens, it is only right that victims are fairly compensated.”