Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme Changes
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government changes the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to: include other forms of child sexual abuse, including online-facilitated sexual abuse; amend the rule on unspent convictions so that applicants with unspent convictions are not automatically excluded where offences are likely to be linked to the circumstances of their sexual abuse as a child; and increase the time limit for child sexual abuse applications so that applicants have seven years to apply from (a) the date the offence was reported to the police or (b) the age of 18, where the offence was reported whilst the victim was a child. In either circumstance, the claims officer's discretion to extend the time limit remains.
- No published amendment to the CICS specifically including online-facilitated sexual abuse or amending time limits for CSA cases has been identified to March 2026.
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted in Part
Response
Accepted in PartWe accept the need to consider changes to the scheme, and we will consult on whether or not to amend the scope and time limits.
Progress Timeline
Raising awareness of existing discretionary extensions to Criminal Injuries Compensation scheme time limits; improving CICA staff training on handling CSA cases sensitively.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
Professor Alexis Jay told Home Affairs Committee that £187m was spent on IICSA and "to date none of its final recommendations had been implemented." Called for "full implementation" saying "get it done."
View detailed findings
As of December 2024, none of the 20 final report recommendations had been implemented. The previous government's response was described by Prof Jay as "very weak and, at times, apparently disingenuous."