Jersey's government promises review of compensation scheme for crime victims
Jersey's government is promising to review its compensation scheme for victims of crime. A UK lawyer says the current arrangements discriminate against survivors of childhood sexual abuse, because of the rules around the claim period. Anyone who is harmed when a crime is committed against them can claim financial compensation, if they apply within three years of the offence. Alan Collins says people who were abused when they were children often will not come forward until adulthood. He says he knows of at least three women who have been rejected by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme because they applied after that time limit - describing it as 'discriminatory as well as plain wrong'.
ITV has spoken to a woman who has tried and failed to get compensation, after seeing her abuser convicted and jailed. She was abused as a child and took 25 years to tell the police.
When her claim was rejected by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, 'Sally' approached several politicians, asking them to intervene.
ITV has seen correspondence from 2016 between the then Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, and the head of the CICB. Senator Gorst advises the CICB that victims of childhood abuse can take many years to disclose. He also suggests that the trauma associated with childhood abuse might be a reason to make an exception to the time limit.
But the CICB is independent of government control, and the decision went unchanged. Sally thinks a change is needed.
In a statement, the Director General for Justice and Home Affairs, Julian Blazeby, says the arrangements for the CICB are being reviewed.
In addition to this promised review, the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel is conducting its own investigation into all government redress and compensation schemes, and is expected to report its findings in the spring.