5,000 signatures reached
To: Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Justice.
STOP PUNISHING VICTIMS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE!
Change the law so that victims of abuse, who have had their lives turned upside down, are not routinely denied compensation if they break any law. Hundreds of victims of abuse have had their compensation slashed, or even refused entirely, after being convicted of drug or alcohol offences, often triggered as a result of the abuse they suffered.
Consideration MUST be given as to what led to them committing their crimes.
Why is this important?
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) currently compensate 'blameless victims of crimes'. However, they also state 'We may refuse or reduce a payment if you have a criminal record, even though you may have been blameless in the incident which resulted in your injury'.
As somebody who works in the legal profession representing victims of abuse, I have witnessed victims of abuse (whose abuser has been convicted) refused compensation on the basis that they have unspent criminal convictions. Some victims were drugged, laced with alcohol and forced to commit crimes by their abusers - they too have been refused compensation because they have 'unspent convictions'. These people were CHILDREN who were abused and put in that situation and CICA are punishing them for their abuse.
Common symptoms of those who were or are being abused are anger, use of drugs and alcohol, committing crimes and lashing out because they want to be heard and helped. Their experiences will be with them for the rest of their lives and they will never be able to regain their childhood or live a normal live.
These issues were submitted to the government last Autumn but to date they have failed to acknowledge the correspondence sent to them. Is this being swept under the carpet too?
These victims need help to rebuild their lives, not to feel they are being punished by CICA: A government run organisation!
