CRIMINAL INJURIES
COMPENSATION AUTHORITY News Release issued by The Government News
Network on 14 December 2007
Media Statement
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) has today
issued a statement in response to the publication of the National
Audit Office (NAO) report Compensating victims of violent crime.
Carole Oatway, Chief Executive of the Criminal Injuries
Compensation Authority, said:
"The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA)
welcomes the publication of today's National Audit Office
report as a key contribution to the work already underway to
improve its performance.
"Victims of violent crime who apply for compensation deserve
a good standard of service from CICA. In 2006 it was recognised
that the Authority's service had declined and major changes
were instigated to improve performance.
"We have therefore already started addressing many of the
issues raised in today's report and have worked closely with
the NAO. We are pleased it recognises the changes we have
introduced 'are already bringing improvements'.
"As CICA's incoming Chief Executive, it is my
responsibility to drive forward these improvements. We are
confident that by working closely with our partners in the
Criminal Justice System, we will ensure that the people who come
to us receive a faster, fairer service. We know that for many
innocent victims of violent crime, a compensation payment from
CICA is one of the key things they receive to show that society
recognises what they have suffered."
Notes to editors
1. Carole Oatway joined the Criminal Injuries Compensation
Authority as Chief Executive on 28 September 2007.
2. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is a
non-departmental public body operating under the Ministry of
Justice. It is based in Glasgow and administers the Criminal
Injuries Compensation Scheme 2001 on behalf of the government. It
pays out compensation to innocent victims of violent crime with
injuries sustained in England, Scotland or Wales:
* Each year, the CICA receives about 60,000 applications for
compensation and pays out around £200 million in awards.
* The size of the award is fixed by a "tariff" system
which was introduced in 1996 and updated in 2001.
* There are 25 levels of awards within the scheme ranging from
£1,000 to £250,000, depending on the severity of the injury sustained.
* In serious cases, additional compensation is available to help
cover lost earnings and medical and care expenses.
* The highest award CICA can make in any case, including the
tariff payment and additional lost earnings and care costs, is £500,000.
3. To be eligible for compensation from CICA, you must:
* be a blameless victim of a violent crime;
* be physically or mentally injured as a result;
* have sustained the injury in England, Scotland or Wales;
* be injured seriously enough to qualify for the smallest award
paid under the scheme - £1,000;
* be a dependant or the parent, child or partner of a victim of
violent crime who has since died.
4. Please note that CICA is based in Glasgow.