The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 could be extended to include more forms of child sexual abuse, with the time limit for applications increased from the current two years to seven years, as recommended last October by the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a consultation seeking views on amending the definition of ‘crime of violence’ to include online-facilitated sexual abuse, non-contact offences and certain other forms of child sexual abuse.
Announcing the ‘additional consultation’ last week, justice minister Edward Argar said: ‘We recognise the incredible courage of the 7,300 individual victims and survivors who came forward to share their stories and testimonies with the Inquiry and the public.’
The MoJ has said it will consider all views and representations from the two previous consultations in 2020 and 2022 in making its decision to reform the scheme. Respond to the consultation by 15 September 2023.
RELATED ARTICLES
