Almost £30m of taxpayer's money has been paid to convicted criminals who have been injured after getting caught up in other crimes.
A Sunday Post investigation discovered 49,709 people with unspent convictions received compensation over the past decade. The highest individual payment was £375,000. Anyone deemed a 'blameless' victim of crime can apply to the state for damages under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
The revelations have sparked calls for serious and serial offenders to be banned from qualifying for compensation. Last year the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority resolved 5,525 compensation claims for people with unspent convictions and the average payout was £1456, up 66% on a decade ago. A CICA spokesperson said it will refuse or reduce an award if someone has unspent convictions. He added, "The more recent and serious the offences are, the more we will take them into account."
Last month it emerged disclosed victims of crime are to have their compensation slashed if they have previously committed minor offences such as speeding.
Another example of the inappropriate use of taxpayers' money.
Posts
4 comments:
I don't see why criminals should be given compensation. If they were wronged in any way, then perhaps such 'wrongs' should be considered to be mitigating circumstances, to be decided by the judge.
Victims [of the criminals] are unlikely to make entirely rational decisions when faced with danger, so compensation seems entirely inappropriate.
I've no objection whatsoever to anyone receiving compensation if they have served a sentence for a crime Fausty, but to be paying out for to those who have not is not correct.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but remember the farmer who shot out at intruders who broke into his farmhouse in the night? As well as having a prison sentence because he killed one of them, the other one claimed compensation I think and got it.
What kind of a deterrent is that?
Yeah, that farmer got a raw deal and his reputation was trashed by the authorities, as well, as has become the norm under this government.
There was a programme about him on TV just very recently Fausty but I missed it. Seemingly he was explaining the night's events.
Post a Comment