Criminal Injury Compensation to be Reviewed by Coalition in Wake of 7/7 Bombs
The system which provides innocent victims of crime with criminal injury compensation looks set to be reviewed in the legal aftermath of the 7/7 bombings.
In the House of Commons yesterday, David Winnick, the Labour party MP for Walsall North asked Kenneth Clarke how many of the 7/7 victims were still waiting for compensation over five years on. He also asked if the Justice Secretary was aware that there was dissatisfaction at the amount of compensation received in the cases that had been settled.
In response, Mr Clarke stated the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority that the coalition has inherited needs to be “re-examined”, announcing that the scheme had been under funded by the previous government to keep up with claims. This re-examination will look at how to make the system quicker and more efficient. In the case of the bombing victims, Mr Clarke said all was being done to get them compensation “as quickly as possible”.
In all 52 people were killed in the suicide bomb attacks on the tube and a bus in London 2005. It has been reported that so far (up to July this year) £11 million pounds has already been paid out in compensation to victims.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority is the government organisation which pays compensation to innocent victims who have been physically or mentally injured by a criminal act.
