Recommendation FR-18: Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme Changes
From The Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, published 20 October 2022.
Recommendation
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.
In brief (written by this site)
In April 2025, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Alex Davies-Jones MP stated that she had "decided not to take forward the recommendations of the Inquiry on the Scheme", noting that changes restricted to child sexual abuse could undermine the universal system and disadvantage other victims (Alex Davies-Jones MP, Apr 2025; Alex Davies-Jones MP, Apr 2025). HM Government similarly reported in April 2025 that the principle of compensating based on injuries sustained rather than crime type made the Inquiry's recommendations difficult to implement (Home Office, Apr 2025). It had previously stated in May 2023 that it accepted the need to consider changes in principle and planned to consult on scope and time limits (Home Office response, May 2023).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
We accept the need to consider changes to the scheme, and we will consult on whether or not to amend the scope and time limits.
Delivery
Ministry of Justice says not accepted (9 April 2025)
It also sets out that, after careful consideration, I have decided not to take forward the recommendations of the Inquiry on the Scheme.
From: Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme Review: 2022 and 2023 consultations. Government Response, Alex Davies-Jones MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Victims and Violence against Women and Girls
UK Government states no delivery position (9 April 2025)
The Government has carefully considered the recommendations on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme and the information and views provided by victims and survivors to the previous Government’s consultations in 2022 and 2023. The core principle of the compensation scheme is that it is universal for all crimes and that victims should be able to access the scheme based on the injuries sustained rather than according to the nature of the crime committed against them. That makes it difficult to amend the scheme along the lines of the IICSA recommendation.
From: Tackling child sexual abuse: progress update (accessible version)
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Ministry of Justice (9 April 2025)
Expanding the Scheme’s scope and making changes to its time limits and unspent convictions rule as the Inquiry recommends would undermine this principle given that these changes would only apply to victims of child sexual abuse. That could, in my view, be detrimental to other deserving victims of crime.
From: Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme Review: 2022 and 2023 consultations. Government Response, Alex Davies-Jones MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Victims and Violence against Women and Girls
Source
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response, delivery statement - Ministry of Justice
Delivery statement