Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Theresa Villiers (Conservative) on Monday, 24 October 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 27 October 2022 (named day). It was answered by Edward Argar (Conservative) on Thursday, 27 October 2022 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Criminal Injuries Compensation: Stalking

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will review the criteria for awarding compensation for criminal injuries in order for psychological harm caused by stalking to be adequately recognised.

Answer

The government-funded Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the Scheme) exists to compensate for serious physical or psychological injury attributable to being a direct victim of a crime of violence. As the Scheme is publicly funded, strict eligibility criteria apply.

When assessing applications, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, which administers the Scheme, must be satisfied that injuries were sustained from a "crime of violence", which has a specific meaning under Annex B of the Scheme. In addition to crimes involving physical or sexual assault, the definition also includes threats against a person which caused fear of immediate violence in circumstances which would have caused a person of reasonable firmness to be put in such fear. Injury from behaviour that constitutes stalking, without physical contact, would be eligible if it fell within this definition.

In 2020, we held a public consultation on proposals to make claiming compensation simpler and more accessible for victims of violent crime. Within this, we considered whether the current definition of a crime of violence for the purposes of the Scheme reflects the changing nature of violent crime. Our conclusions and proposals for reform of the Scheme will be shared in due course.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
69552
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Criminal injuries compensation Stalking
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk