How to Claim Criminal Injuries Compensation

Who Can Apply

Direct Answer: The 2012 Scheme compensates people who suffered a criminal injury caused by a crime of violence in Great Britain, including physical injury, mental injury and sexual assault, and in some cases the families of people who died.

You do not have to have identified or convicted the offender, but you should have reported the crime to the police and cooperate with the investigation. The CICA will consider whether the conduct amounted to a crime of violence and the injury is serious enough to qualify under the tariff.

Deadlines

Under paragraph 87 of the Scheme, an application must be sent as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within two years of the incident. If you were under 18 at the time and the crime was reported to the police before your 18th birthday, the application must be received by your 20th birthday, and if it was not reported until later, within two years of the first report (para 88). The CICA can extend the deadline only in exceptional circumstances where you could not have applied earlier, so do not rely on that.

How Awards Work

Awards are set by reference to a tariff of injuries that assigns a fixed amount to each injury type, with a maximum total of £500,000, plus separate payments in some cases for loss of earnings and special expenses. An unspent conviction, delay in applying or refusal to cooperate with the police can reduce or bar an award.