FOREIGN AND
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE News Release issued by COI News Distribution
Service. 9 October 2008
Victims of child
sex abuse on Pitcairn Island will be able to apply for
compensation the Foreign & Commonwealth Office announced
today. The abuse was revealed in 1999 and led to an extensive
police investigation and trials resulting in the conviction of
eight men.
Foreign Office Minister, Gillian Merron, announced the
compensation scheme for the victims of child sex abuse identified
during Operation Unique.
She said:
"It is right that we have established a mechanism to offer
compensation to the victims of the past child sex abuse on
Pitcairn. We are working closely with the UK's Criminal
Injuries Compensation Authority to ensure the levels of
compensation are linked to the amounts awarded in the UK.
"What happened to these women was terrible and no amount of
money will take that pain away. But I hope this will give them
some recognition of their suffering.
"This is a significant step and it is the right thing to do."
Notes for editors
1. Pitcairn Island is a volcanic island situated in the South
Pacific Ocean, roughly 3300 miles from New Zealand - from where
the island is administered. It has a population of around 50 -
most of whom are descendents of the mutineers from the HMV Bounty.
2. Allegations of sexual abuse were made to a visiting police
officer in 1999. This led to an extensive police investigation
which revealed widespread child sex abuse over many years. 96
charges were laid against 17 men, both on and off the island.
Eight men were convicted of a variety of sexual offences against children.
3. Six of the convicted men received prison terms and two were
given community sentences. There is one inmate in HMP Pitcairn who
will be eligible for home detention from early December. Others
have finished their sentences, been released on licence, or
granted home detention.
4. The FCO, DfID and Pitcairn Government have put several
safeguarding measures in place to provide protection for the
children on the island. These include i) a full-time Family and
Community Adviser; ii) child protection training for professionals
such as the teacher and doctor; iii) education programmes led by
the Family and Community Advisor and teacher; and iv) appointment
of a full-time Community Police Officer on secondment from New
Zealand Police.
5. The scheme will be administered by the Pitcairn
Governor's office in Wellington which will assess each
application. If the applications meet the eligibility criteria,
the UK Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority will offer advice
on the levels of compensation to award in accordance with their
guidelines. The closing date for applications is 31 March 2009.
6. People wishing to apply can obtain a copy of the guidance and
application form from the Pitcairn website (http://www.pitcairn.pn) or from
the Governor's office:
Office of the Governor of Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno
Islands
c/o British High Commission
PO Box
1812
Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Tel: (+64) (4) 924
2888
Fax: (+64) (4) 924 2831
FCO Press Office: 020 7008 3100
Press Office, Downing Street (West), London SW1A 2AL