Commenting on the announcement today by the Ministry of Justice that it will review the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICA), Matthew Maxwell Scott, executive director of the Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO), said:
“This is a welcome and overdue review. The scheme desperately needs modernisation, in particular to speed up the process to settle cases.
“Without this, it will fail to ensure that legal representatives can handle claims efficiently, which risks the possibility of victims being left without support in an often complex and lengthy process.
“We’re aware of one claim which took 7 years to settle but even straightforward claims can take 18 months to process. Clear timescales need to be introduced that encourage the right consumer outcomes and enable victims of violent crimes to get on with their lives.”