Crime Compensation Reform

Justice secretary Ken Clarke has reformed the Crime Compensation Rules which effects mainly people suffering minor injuries and victims who have previously had criminal convictions.

If you have committed a crime against another you will not be eligible for compensation paid by the taxpayer if you are a victim of crime yourself. This will have exceptions and it is believed that people who have spent criminal records will be entitled to claim.

This action will undoubtedly have split opinions but Mr Clarke is trying to reduce the 20'000 claims made by convicted criminals of over £75m of the last ten years. 

If a convicted criminal is allowed to claim, their compensation is deduced taking into account the previous crimes they have committed. Also money from their claim will be made available to the families that suffered because of the crime they committed. This spreads the money away from
the taxpayers. 

The reform also is looking at the distribution of the compensation for criminal injury. Sufferers of lesser injuries such as bruised ribs, broken fingers and toes or sprained ankles will no longer be able to claim criminal injury compensation as these are considered minor and quickly heal. Instead the money available will be prioritised to victims of such crimes as homicide.