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| Compensation for UK victims of terrorism abroad | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| UK citizens who have been victims of terrorism abroad will be entitled to compensation for the first time, Justice Secretary Ken Clarke has said. | |
| All those affected by terrorist attacks since 2002 will be eligible for payments, Mr Clarke told MPs. | |
| The move is part of changes in help for victims of crime which Mr Clarke said would deliver a "better deal". | |
| Labour welcomed the move but said it was "shameful" it had taken so long and policy was "all over the place". | |
| The move has had cross-party support for some time amid complaints that those suffering serious injuries in terrorist attacks abroad were discriminated against in the current criminal justice system. | |
| In future, Mr Clarke said overseas victims would have "exactly the same" access to compensation than those involved in domestic incidents but acknowledged the step had "taken some time". | |
| 'Perverse' | |
| Mr Clarke also announced a clampdown on compensation for those convicted of criminal offences themselves, saying that it was "perverse" that criminals were able to claim for injuries and psychological damage. | |
| Ministers want to reform the taxpayer-funded Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme after the trebling of annual costs to almost £300m since 1997. | |
| Payment of "victim surcharges" by more offenders, and higher fines for driving offences, will raise £50m for victims. | Payment of "victim surcharges" by more offenders, and higher fines for driving offences, will raise £50m for victims. |
| Claims for minor injuries under the scheme for people in England, Wales and Scotland would also be restricted under the plans. | Claims for minor injuries under the scheme for people in England, Wales and Scotland would also be restricted under the plans. |
| Over the past decade, 20,000 people with criminal records have been paid more than £75m, including a rapist and a person convicted of two killings. | Over the past decade, 20,000 people with criminal records have been paid more than £75m, including a rapist and a person convicted of two killings. |
| 'Mental anxiety' | 'Mental anxiety' |
| Claims over the past year alone have been made by more than 3,000 prisoners and ex-prisoners. | Claims over the past year alone have been made by more than 3,000 prisoners and ex-prisoners. |
| In one minor injuries case, a claimant received a four-figure sum for "temporary mental anxiety" after being hit over the head with a bunch of flowers. | In one minor injuries case, a claimant received a four-figure sum for "temporary mental anxiety" after being hit over the head with a bunch of flowers. |
| There were also four-figure payments for a claimant with a broken finger and another with a small cut under the eye. | There were also four-figure payments for a claimant with a broken finger and another with a small cut under the eye. |
| A claim for compensation by Soham murderer Ian Huntley also drew strong criticism after he was badly injured by another inmate. He was convicted of the murders of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2005. | A claim for compensation by Soham murderer Ian Huntley also drew strong criticism after he was badly injured by another inmate. He was convicted of the murders of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2005. |
| However, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority said Huntley would not have received a payout under the existing system because of the severity of his crimes. | However, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority said Huntley would not have received a payout under the existing system because of the severity of his crimes. |
| Under the current scheme, if a conviction is spent - it happened a considerable amount of time ago - or if a person was not jailed for more than 30 months, they can claim compensation. | Under the current scheme, if a conviction is spent - it happened a considerable amount of time ago - or if a person was not jailed for more than 30 months, they can claim compensation. |
| If a conviction is not spent - more recent or more serious - then compensation can still be claimed, but it may be reduced. | If a conviction is not spent - more recent or more serious - then compensation can still be claimed, but it may be reduced. |
| In future, however, a person with a criminal record will only be able to claim compensation in exceptional circumstances. | In future, however, a person with a criminal record will only be able to claim compensation in exceptional circumstances. |
| This could include, for example, a minor offender who is very seriously injured or a criminal who prevents someone else being attacked. | This could include, for example, a minor offender who is very seriously injured or a criminal who prevents someone else being attacked. |
| 'Gesture politics' | 'Gesture politics' |
| Under Mr Clarke's proposals, perpetrators of crime would also pay into the scheme through a victim surcharge of between £15 and £120, depending on the severity of the crime. | Under Mr Clarke's proposals, perpetrators of crime would also pay into the scheme through a victim surcharge of between £15 and £120, depending on the severity of the crime. |
| Currently, only criminals fined as part of their punishment are forced to pay a charge of a £15 flat rate. | Currently, only criminals fined as part of their punishment are forced to pay a charge of a £15 flat rate. |
| This means that the most serious offenders are not paying to support victims' services, the government says. | This means that the most serious offenders are not paying to support victims' services, the government says. |
| Money would also be raised for victims' services by increasing fixed penalty notices for motoring offences, which have remained at the same level for 10 years, and through deductions from prisoners' pay from work in prison. | Money would also be raised for victims' services by increasing fixed penalty notices for motoring offences, which have remained at the same level for 10 years, and through deductions from prisoners' pay from work in prison. |
| Reducing crime | |
| Criminal defence lawyer Greg Foxsmith questioned the changes, saying there was a "moral argument" that a criminal past should not automatically mean a person was any less deserving of compensation. | Criminal defence lawyer Greg Foxsmith questioned the changes, saying there was a "moral argument" that a criminal past should not automatically mean a person was any less deserving of compensation. |
| "I don't think it (the changes) will make any great or significant difference," he told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme. | "I don't think it (the changes) will make any great or significant difference," he told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme. |
| "The scheme as it currently stands already allows a prohibition on people with criminal records receiving money, so this is really a bit of gesture politics." | "The scheme as it currently stands already allows a prohibition on people with criminal records receiving money, so this is really a bit of gesture politics." |
| And one victim of crime who received compensation under the existing scheme said it needed "careful tinkering", not a complete overhaul. | And one victim of crime who received compensation under the existing scheme said it needed "careful tinkering", not a complete overhaul. |
| "I would not want to see any victim of crime be unfairly refused an award if they undergo a violent crime which they suffer significant injuries from," Aleks Lukic told the BBC. | "I would not want to see any victim of crime be unfairly refused an award if they undergo a violent crime which they suffer significant injuries from," Aleks Lukic told the BBC. |
| "In the end the real way to reduce the amount you spend under this scheme is to reduce crime. The main reason why the amount being spent is so high is because there is so much violent crime." | "In the end the real way to reduce the amount you spend under this scheme is to reduce crime. The main reason why the amount being spent is so high is because there is so much violent crime." |