Changes to Criminal Injuries Compensation

13/06/2019

 

The so-called 'same roof rule', which has unfairly denied many victims and survivors access to the Criminal Injuries Compensation they deserve following child sexual abuse and other sexual and violent offences, has finally been abolished.

 

This breakthrough for justice follows a landmark victory for one survivor who successfully took her case to the Court of Appeal last year, where senior judges found the regulation that had prevented her receiving compensation was incompatible with human rights law.

 

The so-called ‘same roof rule' blocked victims of violent crime from receiving compensation if the perpetrator was a family member they were living with at the time of the incident.

 

The rule was amended in 1979 to allow future victims access to compensation, but was not made retrospective. This has led to many victims of crimes which occurred before the law change being denied compensation.

 

Bev is a survivor of child sexual abuse who was supported by Rape Crisis England & Wales member Rape Crisis Centre, South Essex Rape & Incest Crisis Centre (SERICC). Her application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) was turned down under the so-called ‘same roof rule’, despite the man who abused her and her sister being convicted and sent to prison.

 

For full article please see https://rapecrisis.org.uk/news/latest-news/unfair-so-called-same-roof-rule-finally-abolished/