[Mystic Mock]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...hemselves.html

they committed crimes themselves.

Hundreds of victims of sex abuse have had their compensation cut after being convicted of crimes themselves.

In the last five years around one in 30 of those awarded compensation after being abused as children or vulnerable adults have gone on to be fined for breaking the law.

Charities warned the system was 'failing' victims because it was 'patently obvious' that a life of crime could be linked to be abused as a child.
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n the last five years around one in 30 of those awarded compensation after being abused as children or vulnerable adults have gone on to be fined for breaking the law

Since 2010, a total of 12,665 people who suffered abuse as children or vulnerable adults have been awarded compensation by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

But data obtained by the BBC under Freedom of Information laws showed 438 had their government-funded payouts docked over the same period.

In the year to June 2015, half of the 27 people who had payments reduced had convictions for drink, drug, theft or property offences, while eight were prosecuted for violence.

The average payout after a reduction was £8,423.

Cica can refuse or reduce compensation in light of a person's criminal record or unspent convictions using a points-based system, under the Criminal Injuries Compensation scheme.

In its guidance on its website it says: 'We may refuse or reduce a payment if you have a criminal record, even though you may have been blameless in the incident which resulted in your injury.'

It points to the small print of the scheme which says 'we must take account of your unspent criminal convictions at the date of application and before we make a final decision',
Peter Saunders, spokesman for the National Association for People Abused in Childhood, warned the system was 'failing' victims
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Peter Saunders, spokesman for the National Association for People Abused in Childhood, warned the system was 'failing' victims

Odette Tovey, a lawyer who has represented grooming victims, told the BBC Cica should take abuse-related 'mental health problems' into account.

Peter Saunders, spokesman for the National Association for People Abused in Childhood, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'It's patently obvious in most cases that where somebody has gone down a route of criminality, preceded by a life totally devastated by abuse, that there is a link.

'For the system to fail to recognise that is for the system to be failing our people.'

Alan Collins, partner at Hugh James Solicitors, a specialist in representing victims of sexual abuse, said the policy ignored the wider realities that many abuse victims could be left reliant on the state without compensation, which could allow them to access treatment or education.

He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'Sometimes, in many cases, compensation is reduced in total because of criminal convictions.

'It is a perverse situation because if victims had been able to take proceedings say in the High Court against the abuser or those responsible for the abuse, they not would have their compensation reduced because of criminal convictions.

'A balance has to be struck, it's taxpayers' money at the end of the day and there is a policy reason why that happened. But the real issue here is many victims of child abuse, who had their lives ruined, damaged, for all the reasons we can appreciate are deprived of any form of justice.

'Very often the criminal injuries compensation scheme is their only means to get compensation.'

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: 'Under the scheme, an applicant may be refused or awarded a reduced payment if they have an unspent conviction.

'This reflects the fact they may have caused distress, loss or injury to another person and cost the taxpayer money through a police investigation or court proceeding.

[Kizzy]

Over 12 thousand.. And they're just the ones who have come forward.
Bung them a few quid, does accepting this money mean they can't bring a case against an abuser?