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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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Victims of crime losing out in compensation stakes says Assembly Member
December 5, 2008 12:00 AM
Welsh Liberal Democrat Social Justice spokesperson Peter Black has expressed his concern that victims of crime are continuing to lose out on compensation to which they are entitled through the Criminal Injury Compensation Scheme.
Mr. Black's comments were made in the light of the recent report from the Commons Public Accounts Committee which details the scheme's many failures, and criticises the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, (CICA).
"While the information upon which the committee's report is based dates from 2006, this is in itself an indication that all is far from well. In 2006, just one victim in three was even aware of the existence of the scheme. Surely the Compensation Authority must know if this has improved over the last two years?
"Only 5% of the victims of violent crime applied to the Authority for compensation in 2006. Has this got better or worse?
"Those who did try to get help often found that the forms were a bureaucratic nightmare, being too complicated to fill in easily; and that claims were taking an age to process. Has this improved since 2006?
"Labour has repeatedly claimed that they are keen to put the victim at the heart of the criminal justice system. On this showing, they have a long way to go."
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