Sex abuse victims see payouts cut if they go on to commit a crime themselves

Sex abuse victims will see their payments reduced if they commit crimes themselves

HUNDREDS of sex abuse victims have had compensation payments reduced after committing crime themselves, an investigation found.

 

More than 12,000 people who suffered abuse as children or vulnerable adults have been awarded compensation by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority since 2010.

 

But data obtained by the BBC under Freedom of Information laws showed 438 had their taxpayer-funded payouts docked.

 

In the year to June 2015, half of the 27 people who saw their payments reduced had been convicted of drink, drug, theft or property offences.

 

Eight were prosecuted for violence.

 

Odette Tovey, a lawyer who has represented victims of abuse, told the BBC that the compensation authority should take into account the long-term problems faced by many such people.

These can include mental health problems that have resulted from their abuse.

CICA can refuse or reduce compensation in light of a person’s criminal record or unspent convictions using a points-based system.

Guidance on its website says: “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."

The average payout to abuse victims after a reduction was £8,423, the BBC found.