Am I Eligible To Make A CICA Compensation Claim?

Not all victims of violent crime or sexual assault are eligible for compensation under the CICA scheme; therefore, the initial step is to establish eligibility.

Direct Victims Of Violent Crime?

Although the scheme is often described as being available to “direct victims of violent crimes,” its scope extends beyond this.

Under certain circumstances, “Good Samaritans” may be eligible for compensation if they are injured while attempting to prevent a violent crime or assist in detaining or apprehending an offender. As these criteria are very narrowly defined, we recommend contacting us so that one of our claims specialists can assess your eligibility.

Referring solely to “violent crimes” can be misleading, as the CICA may consider certain incidents for compensation that were neither classified as crimes nor inherently violent.

When we refer to a “crime,” it is often assumed that the incident could result in an offender being found guilty in a court of law. However, in certain specific circumstances, the CICA may accept claims where the offender was below the age of criminal responsibility or lacked the mental capacity to be held criminally liable. In such cases, the incidents would not be classified as crimes in the strict legal sense.

Mental injuries, being the victim of arson, having a dog deliberately set upon you, or experiencing fear of immediate violence may not traditionally be viewed as examples of “violent crime.” However, in certain circumstances, such incidents may give rise to valid compensation claims under the scheme.

Unspent Criminal Convictions?

If an applicant for compensation has an unspent criminal conviction at the time of submitting their application or gets a conviction before the claim has been settled, CICA will most likely reject the claim or reduce any settlement amount, according to the type and seriousness of the the conviction. This criteria also extends to youth rehabilitation orders, removal from His Majesty’s Service and community orders.

Some convictions will not be included, for example if they only result in penalty points on their driving license or a fine for a road traffic offence. Our claims specialists can help you asses if any current or prior conviction you may have will impact your eligibility.

Location of the Incident

It is generally stated that an incident must have occurred in England, Scotland, or Wales to qualify under the scheme. However, this is not the complete picture, as there are specific exceptions. For example, incidents that take place on board a British aircraft or seafaring vessel may be eligible, depending on the ownership and control of the plane or vessel.

Nationality and Residency

We have a detailed post on this topic here, but in summary, you must be either a British citizen or hold an established and recognised residency status. As always, the CICA applies a specific set of eligibility requirements, which our claims specialists can assess only after reviewing the details of your case.

Police Reporting & Cooperation

One strict eligibility requirement relates to reporting the incident to the police and providing full cooperation to assist in identifying and apprehending the offender as soon as reasonably possible. While reporting the incident and fully cooperating are considered non-negotiable, interpretations of what constitutes “as soon as reasonably possible” can vary.

We have encountered cases where clients were initially denied compensation due to delays in reporting, but on appeal by our claims specialists, the decisions were successfully overturned by carefully presenting a justified explanation for the delay.

We Can Help!

For all eligibility requirements, the CICA applies a specific set of criteria and may interpret these differently from an individual’s own understanding. Our claims specialists have the expertise to advise clients on these matters after thoroughly reviewing their case.

If you would like to discuss options regarding a potential CICA compensation claim, contact one of our claims specialists through the form below, letting us know the best way to get in touch with you.