Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme Review: supplementary consultation
- From:
- Ministry of Justice
- Published
- 9 June 2022
- Last updated
-
289JuneApril20222025 — See all updates
Read the full outcome
Summary
Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme Review: 2022 and 2023 consultations: Government Response
Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-5557-6, CP 1292
HTML
Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme Review: 2022 and 2023 consultations: Government Response
Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-5557-6, CP 1292
PDF, 381 KB, 58 pages
Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme Review: 2022 and 2023 consultations: Government Response
Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-5557-6, CP 1292
HTML
Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme Review: 2022 and 2023 consultations: Government Response
Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-5557-6, CP 1292
PDF, 381 KB, 58 pages
Detail of outcome
This document is the post-consultation report for the consultation papers: ‘Criminal Injuries Compensation Review Supplementary consultation 2022’ (CP688), and ‘Criminal Injuries Compensation Review Additional consultation 2023’ (CP865).
It will cover:
- the background to the report
- a summary of the responses to the report
- a detailed response to the specific questions raised in the report
- the next steps following this consultation
Original consultation
Summary
A consultation on the unspent convictions eligibility rule of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012.
This consultation iswas being held on another website.
This consultation closesran atfrom
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Consultation description
This consultation seeks to gather views on whether or not to revise the unspent convictions eligibility rule of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the Scheme).
Unspent convictions may result in an applicant’s compensation award being reduced or withheld depending on the sentence that has been imposed for the offence committed. The current rule in the 2012 Scheme provides that an applicant is not eligible for compensation where they have an unspent conviction for an offence that has resulted in one of the custodial or community sentences listed in paragraph 3 of Annex D. The rule is intended to prevent individuals who have committed serious illegal acts from benefitting from state-funded compensation.
In 2020, the government launched the Criminal Injuries Compensation Review which consulted on proposals to improve the experience of victims applying to the Scheme, by making it simpler and easier to navigate. In this consultation the unspent convictions rule was examined and set out conclusions for proposing no change. However, in August 2021, the High Court ruled that a legitimate expectation to consult on the issue created in the Victims’ Strategy of 2018 had been breached, and an order was made for a public consultation to take place on whether the rule should be revised.
We are therefore publishing this supplementary consultation to invite views on retaining the rule unchanged and on potential reforms. A decision about whether to revise the rule, and if so how, will be made after careful consideration of all views and representations made by respondents both to this and the 2020 consultation.
Consultation description
This consultation seeks to gather views on whether or not to revise the unspent convictions eligibility rule of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the Scheme).
Unspent convictions may result in an applicant’s compensation award being reduced or withheld depending on the sentence that has been imposed for the offence committed. The current rule in the 2012 Scheme provides that an applicant is not eligible for compensation where they have an unspent conviction for an offence that has resulted in one of the custodial or community sentences listed in paragraph 3 of Annex D. The rule is intended to prevent individuals who have committed serious illegal acts from benefitting from state-funded compensation.
In 2020, the government launched the Criminal Injuries Compensation Review which consulted on proposals to improve the experience of victims applying to the Scheme, by making it simpler and easier to navigate. In this consultation the unspent convictions rule was examined and set out conclusions for proposing no change. However, in August 2021, the High Court ruled that a legitimate expectation to consult on the issue created in the Victims’ Strategy of 2018 had been breached, and an order was made for a public consultation to take place on whether the rule should be revised.
We are therefore publishing this supplementary consultation to invite views on retaining the rule unchanged and on potential reforms. A decision about whether to revise the rule, and if so how, will be made after careful consideration of all views and representations made by respondents both to this and the 2020 consultation.